Milwaukee's 'Grand Old Flag?' Yeah, Not So Much.

MILWAUKEE — Milwaukee's City Flag: It's no Chicago. It might not even be as good as Racine's.

But according to a recent report by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, it is indeed one thing: "a hot mess."

Milwaukee's baby blue flag, which is packed with a jumble of images. Let us catalogue the cacophony:

• The image of a ship that, upon investigation, looks more like a shovel.
• A stalk of wheat that "may" be topped with a Menorah.
• A drawing of a tired-looking Native American.
• County stadium. Before its renovation.
• A giant gear.
• A tiny American flag.
• Smokestacks with smoke coming out of them.
• Something that looks like MECCA Arena.

But according to the Journal Sentinel, the real "dig" bestowed upon the flag that was adopted in 1954 comes from Roman Mars, a radio host and design expert who says Milwaukee's flag one of the worst he's ever seen.

"Nothing can quite prepare you for one of the biggest train wrecks in vexillological history," Mars said in a 2015 presentation. "Are you ready? It's the flag of Milwaukee, Wisconsin." (Vexillology is the term for the study of flags)

Contest for a new flag about to reveal 5 finalists

There is a contest to replace Milwaukee's old flag with a new one. After receiving 1,006 entries, a team of judges to narrow the field down to the top 50 designs, plus another 15 honorable mentions.

Here's the Journal Sentinel's report:

Graphic Designer Steve Kodis has since devoted much of the last year to an effort to redesign a new flag. He launched a website chronicling the movement, The People's Flag of Milwaukee, and teamed up with Ken Hanson, the executive director of Greater Together, a nonprofit organization devoted to promoting racial and economic equality.

The Journal Sentinel reports that they will be on display at City Hall starting Saturday, when the five finalists will also be unveiled. That same day they are sent to launch an online rating process so the public can help pick a new flag.

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