April 17, 2024

Heartsill sponsors, passes resolution recognizing birthplace of Iowa Flag

By Special to

Rep. Greg Heartsill presents a resolution recognizing Knoxville as the birthplace of the Iowa State Flag on the Iowa House floor. (Submitted Photo)

DES MOINES — The House unanimously passed House Resolution 33, introduced by Rep. Greg Heartsill (R-Columbia), on Wednesday. The resolution recognized Knoxville as the birthplace of the Iowa State flag and highlighted today as Iowa State Flag Day.

The resolution reads below:

A Resolution recognizing Knoxville as the birthplace of  the Iowa State Flag.

WHEREAS, March 29, 2013, marks the 92nd Anniversary of the adoption of the Iowa State Flag by the 39th Iowa General Assembly; and

WHEREAS, Knoxville is known as the birthplace of the Iowa State Flag; and

WHEREAS, Knoxville resident Dixie Cornell Gebhardt, along with other members of the Mary Marion Chapter of  the Daughters of the Revolution of Knoxville, designed the Iowa flag in 1917; and

WHEREAS, the Honorable Terry Branstad, Governor of the State of Iowa has proclaimed March 29, 2013, as Iowa State Flag Day; and

WHEREAS, the blue stripe of the banner stands for loyalty, justice, and truth, the broad white stripe for purity, and the red stripe for courage; and

WHEREAS, the eagle carries blue streamers inscribed with the state motto, “Our Liberties We Prize and Our Rights We Will Maintain”;

NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, That the House of Representatives recognizes Knoxville as the birthplace of the Iowa State Flag and recognizes March 29, 2013, as Iowa State Flag Day.

“Practically every school kid in the country knows Betsy Ross and her place in American history,” Heartsill said after the successful passage of House Resolution 33.  “My hope is that with this resolution and the Governor’s proclamation, more Iowa school kids will come to know Dixie Cornell Gebhardt’s and the City of Knoxville’s place in Iowa history.”

Heartsill enlisted the help of fellow House members whose districts border House District 28 to read the Resolution on the House floor Wednesday morning.  Those House members included: Rep. Guy Vander Linden (R-Oskaloosa), Rep. Dave Maxwell (R-Gibson), Rep. Dan Kelley (D-Newton), Rep. Joel Fry (R-Osceola), Rep. Larry Sheets (R-Moulton), and Rep. Scott Ourth (D-Ackworth).