A bright new flag will soon be hoisted up flag poles in Howard County, symbolizing the county’s historic past and hopeful future with references to its characteristic features.

Howard County Executive Calvin Ball selected Esen Paradiso’s entry from three final designs chosen by a special flag committee. Paradiso, a longtime Howard County resident, runs Columbia Creative Services, a company providing graphic design to nonprofits and small businesses. Her design will replace the flag adopted in 1968, the same year the county became a charter county with a council and executive at the helm.

“The Howard County flag is one of the few official symbols that reflect our government and our community. It should represent the vibrancy and incredible diversity of our community. It should inspire us to be and be recognizable to all,” Ball said during a news conference announcing his decision.

The flag features a blue field meant to symbolize the positive future in “endless skies” and natural resources that define the county such as lakes and rivers. In the blue field sits a yellow circle, mimicking the sun’s energy to strengthen a diverse community “with a view toward the horizon.”

Below the bright sky are arches of white, green and yellow and white stripes. The arch is meant to represent Thomas Viaduct – the historic past – and the future. The green field stands for the county’s planned preservation, investment in agriculture, use of the environment and growth of a community that’s culturally appreciative. Underneath the green, the yellow and white stripes capture the historic and current abundance of both natural and agricultural resources.

It took months to reach Tuesday’s decision, with a 19-person Howard County Flag Commission established by executive order working since January 2024. The commission was made up of a diverse cross-section of the community, including members of the Asian American Pacific Islander Commission and the LGBTQIA+ Commission, the Howard County Lynching Truth and Reconciliation, Inc. and the CEO of the Howard County Chamber of Commerce, as well as historians, a representative of the library system, and the tourism community, and four county residents.

Anyone was able to submit up to three flag designs for consideration from April 1 to June 30. Under the commission’s established guidelines,184 designs from 89 individuals were deemed eligible, Ball said.

Following a public hearing in September, the commission narrowed the options to 10, and the public was asked to provide feedback and cast votes from November to January. From the top 10, the commission selected three designs from the top five vote-getters, passing them on to Ball for his final choice.

The commission led with open minds, often holding tough, passionate and lively discussions, said Coleen West, chair of the commission and executive director of the county’s arts council. She thanked the members for their perspectives and thoughtful ideas as they “rose to the challenge.”

“When it comes to art, its meaning and beauty are in the eye of the beholder. The commission was selected to represent our community and is made up of people from a wide range of backgrounds and experiences,” West said.

The county awarded the three finalists a monetary prize for their work, with Paradiso receiving $1,500 and the two runners-up, Jennifer Murphy and Paul Burke, each receiving $1,000.

The flag will have to be approved by the County Council through a vote at the beginning of April.

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