Editor’s note: Aaron Wittnebel wrote this op-ed in response to a New Ulm Journal story. A similar story was published in the Independent

By Aaron Wittnebel

In response to the Journal’s recent “Minnesota Flags Staying Put” article, I was hoping to clarify some of the misunderstanding, and correct some of the misinformation that is out there regarding the new State Flag and Great Seal.

The first that should help city staff, is that the new State Flag has been approved, the statutory authority was vest in the State Emblems Redesign Commission by an act of the Legislature and signed into law by the Governor. The new State Flag should be raised on Statehood Day, Saturday, May 11, as per the directive by the statute and retire the old flag.

Though, if a location is typically closed to the public on Saturdays, it’s OK to do it without a ceremony, first thing on Monday morning. If the physical state of the old flag, being lowered for the last time is in fairly good shape, you may want to hold a retirement ceremony using your police department or local veteran’s group, and then turn it over to the local or county historical society for preservation.

Second, the current flag was never at Gettysburg nor was it a part of the Civil War. Minnesota did not have a state flag until the late 1800s. The state fought under a battle flag that was composed of the U.S. Flag with the letters “M” and “N” sewn in gold fabric onto them. There is currently one in very good condition on display at the State Capitol Building. We also have one in my hometown of Lake Park on loan from a family, on display at American Legion Post 181.

Third, while no city office was directly sent correspondence on the State Emblems Redesign Commission’s establishment within legislation last Spring, or when we started our work this past September; the information was shared by news media and the League of Minnesota Cities and Association of Minnesota Counties publications that both cities and counties receive.

SERC also conducted a statewide campaign to recruit local artists to submit design concepts, by sending emails, press releases, press statements, and fliers all around the state to get people involved.

And each of the active political parties were keenly aware that this was work was going to occur and when it was occurring, anyone making a statement to the contrary must have been on a long sabbatical if they were unaware.

Other than the date that the new Flag is to be raised and the old Flag retired, there won’t be any further direction. The new flag of Minnesota has been the adopted and requires no further approval or instruction from the Legislature, and unlike some may want in the Minority it is not likely to happen as the same legislative committees from a budget year typically don’t meet during the short bonding year in our biennium system.

It’s fairly cut and dry, look around at where other cities or counties are ordering their new flags and check pricing. You may want to band together with other cities and the county and create a purchasing pool, which several rural counties already do for small and large purchases. The concept designer was a young gentleman from Luverne, Minnesota, while SERC was the designer of the new Flag.

As for the Great Seal of the State of Minnesota, has also been adopted. It goes into effect on Statehood Day, May 11, as well. Those of us who are either Notaries or Apostilles will be given a grace period and are required to have our own seals changed to the new Great Seal no later than Jan. 1, 2025.

If costs don’t rise (inflation) too much for notarial supplies, my seal replacement, which happens to align with the phase out of the old seal, should cost around $25.00 give or take a few cents which also includes shipping and tax or if I take my own advice in regards to a physical imprinter due to the impending threats of AI, it could be between $55.00 and $80.00, which still includes a solid metal seal imprinter, embossing labels, a personalized self-inking stamp, tax and shipping.

The Great Seal has been adopted, and its duty as a functional tool of state government, for authorized purposes by certain officials, of course there are a few ceremonial uses that are generally accepted that aren’t official, such as a statewide elected official or the leader of either chamber of the Legislature to use it on a lectern from the they are making an address from. Or on the front of a Judge’s bench or on the wall behind where a judge sits in a courtroom (symbolizing state authority). Some state officials utilize the Great Seal in their letterhead, though that practice is less common now that state agencies and departments tend to have their own branded letterhead. State legislators still use the Great Seal for their official letterhead to differentiate it from their campaign committee letterhead, and they also use it for their business cards. As part of the Notary/Apostille squad that served on the commission, we were alarmed that some counties, county officials, cities, and city officials have been utilizing the Great Seal for unofficial and unauthorized uses. That should stop, bar none and counties and cities are solely responsible for correcting the misuse.

Whether you’re the sheriff of the largest county in Minnesota or the county board of a small rural county, you should stick to utilizing your county seal. Yes, counties as well as cities, in the state of Minnesota have or should have their own seal of officiating their formal documents, some from the 1800s aren’t very intricate and may only say the day of incorporation or founding along with the county or city’s name with the State’s in the annulus around an empty blazon (field/center icon). county recorders (or registrar of titles) are required to utilize the Great Seal in an official capacity on a regular basis and district courts as well, these would be the only exception.

— Aaron Wittnebel is a commissioner on the State Emblems Redesign Commission