Chapter 3. State Seal, Song and Symbols
TITLE 29
State Government
General Provisions
CHAPTER 3. STATE SEAL, SONG AND SYMBOLS
§ 301. Great Seal.
The seal now used as the Great Seal of this State and bearing the arms of this State shall be the Great Seal of this State. It is emblazoned as follows: Party per fess, or and argent, the first charged with a garb (wheat sheaf) in bend dexter and an ear of maize (Indian Corn) in bend sinister, both proper; the second charged with an ox statant, ruminating, proper; fess, wavy azure, supporters on the dexter a husbandman with a hilling hoe, on the sinister a rifleman armed and accoutred at ease. Crest, on a wreath azure and argent, a ship under full sail, proper, with the words "Great Seal of the State of Delaware," the dates "1704, 1776, and 1787," and the words "Liberty and Independence" engraved thereon.
Code 1852, § 463; 24 Del. Laws, c. 89, § 1; Code 1915, § 387; Code 1935, § 361; 29 Del. C. 1953, § 501; 70 Del. Laws, c. 186, § 1; 74 Del. Laws, c. 276, § 1.;
§ 302. Seal of state officials, courts and public officers.
The seals of the Secretary of State and Auditor of Accounts and of the several courts of this State and of the several public offices and officers in the several counties, now established and used, shall be the seals of such courts, offices and officers respectively and shall be so received and used. The seal of the office of the clerk of peace shall be the seal of the county government of Kent and Sussex Counties. The seal of the office of the clerk of the county council shall be the seal of the county government of New Castle County.
Code 1852, § 464; 21 Del. Laws, c. 114; Code 1915, § 388; Code 1935, § 362; 29 Del. C. 1953, § 502; 54 Del. Laws, c. 186; 55 Del. Laws, c. 85, § 38A.;
§ 303. State song.
The official state song shall consist of the poem "Our Delaware" containing 3 verses, each verse in honor of a county of this State, written by George B. Hynson; a fourth verse in praise of the State and pledging the loyalties of its citizens, written by Donn Devine; and a musical score composed specifically for the state song by Will M. S. Brown.
REFER TO THE BOOK FOR THE PROPER TABLE
REFER TO THE BOOK FOR THE PROPER TABLE
34 Del. Laws, c. 253; Code 1935, § 2763; 29 Del. C. 1953, § 503; 61 Del. Laws, c. 45, § 1.;
§ 304. State bird.
The "blue hen chicken" is the official bird of the State.
42 Del. Laws, c. 128; 29 Del. C. 1953, § 504.;
§ 305. State tree.
The American holly ( Ilex opaca, Aiton ) is adopted as the state tree.
42 Del. Laws, c. 86; 29 Del. C. 1953, § 505.;
§ 306. State flag.
The design of the official state flag shall be as follows: A background of colonial blue surrounding a diamond of buff in which diamond is placed the correct coat of arms of the State in the colors prescribed by law and in accordance with § 301 of this title, with the words, "December 7, 1787," to be inscribed underneath the diamond.
The official state colors, colonial blue and buff, are designated by the Textile Color Card Association of the United States, Inc., New York, as "arno blue" Cable No. 10663, and "golden beige" Cable No. 10781 respectively; the color shades having been determined by Colorimetric Specifications of the National Bureau of Standards, United States Department of Commerce, in Test No. 2, 1/140565, dated November 18, 1954, which is on file with the Delaware Public Archives, Dover, Delaware. The colors of the coat of arms and other elements of the state flag shall be the following: Husbandman, trousers of gray brown, shirt of red, hat and hilling hoe of brown; rifleman, suit of green, binding, bag and leggings of buff, hat of brown, powder flask and feather of gray; shield, frame of shaded yellow, top panel of orange, center panel of blue, lower panel of white, ox of red brown, grass and corn of green, wheat and branches underfoot of yellow, heraldric wreath to be blue and silver (twisted); ship under full sail to have a dark hull and white sails; date, December 7, 1787, to be white; cord and tassels to be blue and gold.
29 Del. C. 1953, § 506; 50 Del. Laws, c. 288, § 1; 70 Del. Laws, c. 186, § 1; 72 Del. Laws, c. 91, § 10.;
§ 307. Governor's flag.
The official flag of the Governor of the State shall be identical to the official flag of this State except that it shall also bear a fringe of gold surrounding the edge of the flag and the pole upon which the Governor's flag is carried shall have mounted thereon a model of a blue hen's fighting cock.
29 Del. C. 1953, § 507; 50 Del. Laws, c. 290, § 1.;
§ 308. State flower.
The peach blossom, as originally adopted as the floral emblem of the State on May 9, 1895, shall be the official state flower.
29 Del. C. 1953, § 508; 50 Del. Laws, c. 289, § 1.;
§ 309. State bug.
The lady bug shall be the official state bug for the State.
59 Del. Laws, c. 300, § 1.;
§ 310. State mineral.
The official state mineral is sillimanite.
61 Del. Laws, c. 21, § 1.;
§ 311. State fish.
The weakfish (Cynoscion genus) is the official fish of the State.
63 Del. Laws, c. 90, § 1.;
§ 312. State beverage.
Milk shall be the official beverage of the State.
64 Del. Laws, c. 41, § 1.;
§ 313. State herb.
Solidago odora, commonly known as "sweet golden rod," shall be the official herb of the State.
70 Del. Laws, c. 386, § 1.;
§ 314. State fossil.
The official state fossil is the belemnite.
70 Del. Laws, c. 427, § 1.;
§ 315. State butterfly.
The tiger swallowtail ( Pterourus glaucus ) is the official butterfly of the State.
72 Del. Laws, c. 44, § 1.;
§ 316. State soil.
Greenwich loam (a coarse, loamy, mixed, semiactive, mesic, Typic Hapludult) is the official soil of the State.
72 Del. Laws, c. 288, § 1.;
§ 317. State star.
The official state star is Delaware Diamond, located in the constellation of Ursa Major (Great Bear), with coordinates of right ascension 9/fh40/fm44/fs and declination 48/d14/'2".
72 Del. Laws, c. 398, § 1.;
§ 318. State nickname.
The official nickname of the State is "The First State."
73 Del. Laws, c. 268, § 1.;
§ 319. State marine animal.
The official state marine animal is the horseshoe crab.
73 Del. Laws, c. 326, § 1.;
§ 320. State macroinvertebrate.
The stonefly (order Plecoptera ) is the official macroinvertebrate of the State.
75 Del. Laws, c. 37, § 1.;
§ 321. State dessert.
Peach pie shall be the official dessert of the State.
77 Del. Laws, c. 190, § 1.;
§ 322. State fruit.
Strawberries shall be the official fruit of the State.
77 Del. Laws, c. 255, § 1.;
§ 323. State wildlife animal.
The grey fox is the official wildlife animal of the State.
77 Del. Laws, c. 286, § 1.;