Could we please stop changing SC flag?

I went to the Department of Motor Vehicles this month to register my car, and was struck by two competing images: One was a picture of Gov. Henry McMaster framed by the U.S. and S.C. flags. The other was an S.C. flag — which didn’t look at all like the one in the picture.

At the risk of sounding like Andy Rooney from “60 Minutes,” why does the Palmetto tree on our state flag keep changing? Can’t we pick just one design and stay with it?

On Jan. 28, 1861, the General Assembly adopted our state flag as we know it today. Its two prominent features, the crescent and Palmetto tree, have historic meaning. The crescent represents the silver emblem worn on the caps of S.C. troops during the Revolutionary War. The Palmetto tree represents the defense of the Palmetto log fort on Sullivan’s Island against the British attack on June 28, 1776.

S.559 and H.4201 would establish a procedure to select the official Palmetto tree design

The design of the flag has varied somewhat through the years, specifically the tree. But for many years, the flag flown over the State House was consistent.

Recently, though, I have noticed a different Palmetto tree, a less natural looking tree, on the flag atop the State House.

The design now varies widely on S.C. flags, apparel and gifts. One company has even trademarked a Palmetto tree design of its own. I believe South Carolina should adopt a uniform design for our state flag. For what it’s worth, my suggestion would be the one that used to fly over the State House.

I’m pretty sure the star on the Texas flag, the bear on the California flag and the buffalo on the Wyoming flag stay consistent.

Now, I understand there are many more important issues facing the General Assembly than the design of a tree on our flag. But it shouldn’t be that difficult to take care of this: Let’s just pick a nice-looking Palmetto tree and stay with it.

This story was originally published April 29, 2017 at 3:57 PM with the headline "Could we please stop changing SC flag?."