Detroit City Flag is Significant as Ever

The present design of the Detroit seal located at the flag’s center was approved and adopted as the official seal in 1827. It commemorates the great fire of 1805 that burned Detroit to the ground. The seal shows two women; one standing rather somber analyzing what has been lost and the other woman comforting her as she stands in the brighter side of the City, representing hope and the future.

The Latin words Speramus Meliora and Resurget Cineribus translate to “We hope for better things… It shall rise from the ashes.” The same motto spoken two centuries ago continues to capture the real spirit of Detroit. We put America on wheels, paved the first roads, established the modern middle-class and continue to look forward with innovative technology, specifically alternative-energy.

While it’s important to acknowledge past achievements, we must not dwell on their joys or their distress.  The spirit of hard-working individuals is as bright as ever as we unite to assure Detroit once again rises to the top.

More about the Flag

The quadrants represent countries which controlled Detroit at a point in history. The lower left quadrant represents France, which founded the fort and settlement in 1701. It has five gold fleurs-de-lis on a white field. The upper-right quadrant represents the Kingdom of Great Britain, which controlled the fort from 1760 to 1796; it has three gold lions on a red field. The upper-left and lower-right quadrants represent the United States; they have 13 stripes and stars, respectively, representing the original thirteen colonies.