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Leonardtown, Maryland (U.S.)

by Phil Nelson, 10 May 2003

Description of the flag
Version per county code

See also:

Maryland

Description of the flag

The flag is approximately 3:5 ratio (although there is a question based upon the town code below and the fact that the estimate was made on an object 30 feet above my head), blue (between B and B-) with the city seal centered in full color approximately 80 percent of the with of the hoist.

Leonardtown is located in St. Mary's County. It was originally named Seymour Town in honor of Governor John Seymour. In 1708 it was designated the county seat. In 1728 the town was renamed Leonardtown in honor of Leonard Calvert, first colonial governor of Maryland.

From the county code, I came up with the following, which is different from the observed flag (as can be seen below):

§ 24-2. Description of Seal.
The Seal is described as follows:

A. Proper heraldic description:
(1) Arms: Gules, Two Wings Co-Joined in Lure, or.
(2) Crest: Out of a Ducal Coronet, or, a Phoenix of the Last, Issuing From Flames, Proper.
(3) Motto: Foy Pour Devoir.

B. Translation:
(1) Arms: Red, Two Wings, Joined at the Back with Tips Point Downward, Gold.
(2) Crest: Out of a Ducal Coronet, Gold (Usually Shown with 3 Green Stones and 2 Red Stones in the Head) Band, A Phoenix of Gold Issuing From Flames, as they Would Appear in Life.
(3) Motto: Foy Pour Devoir (Faithful To Duty). The Motto is displayed on a Silver Banner with Gold Tassels. The Motto is of ancient French origin.

C. The afore-going heraldic devices are displayed on a field of royal blue since Leonardtown was established under a Royal Decree of King Charles the Second and later decrees of Queen Anne and King George II.

D. The whole is surrounded with a band of gold on which is inscribed the words, "LEONARDTOWN, MARYLAND," at the top and the date "1728" at the bottom, all spaced by 13 stars indicative of the fact that Leonardtown was an old town when the 13 original states were formed.

ARTICLE II, Flag [Adopted 7-4-1975 by Res. No. 5-75]

§ 24-3. Purpose; intent.
A. By order of the Governor's Council in 1694, each county was designated a flag of a certain color to represent its militia contingent. St. Mary's County was issued a plain red flag.

B. Since Leonardtown is the County Seat of Government in St. Mary's County and since two greens were laid out in the center of the town for militia to practice military drill, Leonardtown has become the guardian of the colors.

C. It is only fitting that the town government of Leonardtown should have a special flag to indicate its exalted position in St. Mary's County.

§ 24-4. Description of flag.

The following is the description of the flag of Leonardtown: a plain red rectangle two feet high by three feet wide in size, completely bordered with gold fringe (one inch in length), and bearing in the center of the field the Seal of Leonardtown, already described, 1/5 the height of the field. The Seal is to be found on both the obverse and reverse sides of the rectangle.

Phil Nelson, 10 May 2003

Version per county code

by Phil Nelson, 10 May 2003