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MARYLAND MANUAL 811
STATE FLAG Maryland's flag bears the arms of the Calvert and Crossland families. Calvert was the family name of the Lords Baltimore who founded Maryland. Crossland was the family of the mother of the first Lord Baltimore. The escutcheon or shield in the Maryland Seal bears the same arms. This flag in its present form was first used about 1886. It was officially adopted by Chapter 48, Acts of 1904. The cross bottony affixed to the top of the flagstaff was made the official ornament by Chapter 862, Acts of 1345 (Code 1957, 1971 Repl. Vol., Art. 41, sec. 74A). GREAT SEAL OF MARYLAND The Great Seal of Maryland is used by the Governor and the Secretary of State to authenticate the Acts of the Legislature and for other official purposes. The first Great Seal was brought over during the early days of the Colony. It remained in use, although slightly altered, until the Revolution. The State of Maryland adopted a new seal similar in form and spirit to those of the other States. After the passage of a hundred years, Maryland readopted its old seal (Joint Resolution No. 6, Legislative Session of 1876). Only the Reverse of this seal has ever been cut. The Obverse is, however, still considered as part of the seal and is used, among other things for decorating public buildings. The Reverse consists of an escutcheon or shield bearing the Calvert and Crossland arms quartered. Above is an earl's coronet and a full- faced helmet. The escutcheon is supported on one side by a farmer and on the other by a fisherman, symbolizing Lord Baltimore's two estates of Maryland and Avalon. The Calvert motto on the scroll is usually translated "manly deeds, womanly words." The Latin legend on the border is translated "with favor wilt thou compass us as with a shield." (Psalms v, 12.) The Obverse of the Seal shows Lord Baltimore as a Knight in full armor mounted on a charger. The inscription translated is "Cecilius, Absolute Lord of Maryland and Avalon, Baron of Baltimore." Avalon was the name of Lord Baltimore's grant in Newfoundland (Chapter 79, Acts of 1969; Code 1957, 1971 Repl. Vol., Art. 41, sec. 74A). STATE TREE Maryland has chosen for its tree the White Oak. The magnificent specimen shown among the illustrations of Maryland's symbols is known as the Wye Oak and is. located at Wye Mills on the Eastern Shore. It is now owned by the State (Chapter 731, Acts of 1941; Code 1957, 1971 Repl. Vol., Art. 41, sec. 76). STATE SONG The Maryland State song, "Maryland, My Maryland," was written by a Marylander who was living in the Confederacy during the War between the States. The air is not original. Its words reflect the bitter feeling following the passage through Baltimore of Union troops in 1861 (Chapter 451, Acts of 1939; Code 1957, 1971 Repl. Vol., Art. 41, sec. 79). |
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Maryland Manual, 1971-72
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