Burlington's flag, adopted by the city council on November 27, 2017, features five horizontal zigzag stripes: blue, white, green, white, blue. This simple but memorable design was created by seventh-grade twins, Owen and Lucas Marchessault, and raised for the first time at the 2017 New Year's celebrations.
The design has clear symbolism: the top blue band represents the sky, Burlington's history and hope for the future. The white line symbolizes the snow-capped mountains. The green band evokes Vermont's nickname, the "Green Mountain State," and the city's commitment to environmental protection.
Located on the shores of Lake Champlain with a view of New York's Adirondacks, Burlington is a progressive university town (University of Vermont), famous for its music scene (Phish was born here) and its left-wing politics.
Bernie Sanders was mayor of Burlington from 1981 to 1989 before becoming a senator and presidential candidate. The city has an openly socialist identity, rare in America. The new 2017 flag, designed by children, captures Burlington's democratic and accessible spirit.