Idaho flags unfurled in obscurity

QUESTION: American flags fly all over this county. But why aren’t there some Idaho state flags? It’s hard to find one anywhere.

ANSWER: Hey, it sounds like you spotted a couple.

While we were researching your question, an old-timer said he’d seen more bald eagles than Idaho flags.

That’s probably an exaggeration, although maybe not.

These state flags are pretty darn rare.

If you’re hoping to see one in the vicinity of downtown Coeur d’Alene, your surest bets are the Kootenai County building on Government Way and the Kroc Center on Golf Course Road.

But there’s no state flag at City Hall.

“I’m not really positive about the reason,” said Bill Greenwood, director of parks and recreation.

“I do know that the flagpole at City Hall is too short. But why it hasn’t come up in budget discussions to get a proper pole, I’m not sure.”

It isn’t some sort of political statement, certainly.

“No, we have Idaho state flags at McEuen Park and Riverview Cemetery,” Greenwood said. “I guess it would be good to have one at City Hall.”

For incentive, Post Falls City Hall has an Idaho flag flying proudly.

Meanwhile, there is no discernable pattern in Coeur d’Alene.

“We don’t have a state flag outside, but we have one in our Community Room,” said Bette Ammon, the Coeur d’Alene Public Library director.

Odd, but...

This state isn’t exactly begging to have its flag displayed.

The only thing on it is The Great Seal of Idaho, and you need a degree in vexillology (study of flags) to grasp what you’re seeing there.

Here’s a partial description, courtesy of Wikipedia:

“The seal depicts a miner and a woman representing equality, liberty and justice. The symbols represent Idaho’s natural resources: mines, forests, farmland and wildlife.

“The inner ring contains a banner with the Latin motto, Esto perpetua (‘Let it be perpetual’ or ‘It is forever’).

“A woman, signifying justice, and a man, dressed as a miner, support a shield.

“Inside, the pine tree in the foreground refers to Idaho’s timber interests. The husbandman plowing on the left side of the shield, together with the sheaf of grain beneath the shield, are emblematic of Idaho’s agricultural resources — while the two cornucopias refer to horticulture.

“Idaho has a game law, which protects the elk and moose, and an elk’s head rises above the shield.

“The state flower (there are five versions) grows at the woman’s feet, while the ripened wheat grows up to her shoulder.

“The river depicted in the shield is the Snake or Shoshone River.”

So then...

Several possible state flowers. Two Latin translations. Two river names.

Elk but no moose. Endless icons crammed into a small seal.

OK, maybe a little wacky, but it’s STILL our state flag.

Let’s get some flying, shall we?

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Send your I Wonder question to Steve Cameron: scameron@cdapress.com