Oh, so proudly we hail

You know you've crossed into Town & Country when you see the city's distinctive flag at city hall, in parks and on police cars.

The flag is the same as the city's logo, designed in 1992 by Robert C. Smith, a fine arts professor at Washington University, according to City Clerk Pamela Burdt.

At that time, Smith described his design as reflecting features of the city's then new West County EMS & Fire Protection District fire station as well as trees and rolling hills exemplifying open space.

"His use of shades of blue and green added to the flavor of a peaceful and beautiful community," Burdt said.

Many local communities proclaim their pride, history and significance through city flags.

Some date back many years.

The design of Hazelwood's flag was selected from several entries submitted during a city-wide contest in 1971, said Tim Davidson, the city's communications coordinator.

"In this design, the two large sections at the base, the blue and red triangles, represent two rivers coming together," he said. "Since the city of Hazelwood is located near the place where the Missouri River meets the Mississippi River, that's what these two triangles symbolize."

At one time, the emblem of the city was a white birch tree because hundreds of them were planted throughout the area, Davidson said.

"The white birch tree is used as part of the design, using an artsy rendition showing three green leaves and a black trunk. The black chevron below the tree signifies the growth of Hazelwood as it spreads out from its central point," he said.

Other flags are newer.

Though the city was incorporated in 1887, Festus' city flag was only created in 2000 - through a citywide contest won by John O. Baynes - and boasts the motto "city of progress."

Eight stars in the flag represent the number of those on the City Council.

Its blue and yellow reflects the spirit of "Festus," which means joy.

In Chesterfield, City Administrator Mike Herring said the city's flag was first created soon after its 1988 incorporation and reflected a logo, at that time, which was two interlocking "C's. A new logo includes trees.

Flags of some local communities reflect other cities far away.

"Frontenac's name was derived from the city's founders, Mr. and Mrs. Benajmin Wood, who adopted the city of Frontenac name after their travels through Quebec, where they were charmed by the Chateau Frontenac and the history of its namesake," City Clerk Leesa Ross said. "That is the origin of Frontenac and why the fleur de lis was chosen in our flag.

People in the community sometimes help with the design of a flag.

Eureka's flag was designed in 1969 by the Eureka Jaycees Wives Club, City Administrator Craig Sabo said.

"The flag design depicts the Missouri State Seal, with the flag panel colors complementing the state seal color scheme. The year 1850 was incorporated into the flag design to represent the period in which the Eureka area was first settled," he said.

Likewise, a local bank helped to create the Jennings' city flag.

In 1964, the old North Side Bank (now, a Bank of America) decided to install a flag pole at its site on West Florissant Avenue, with space for U.S., Missouri and city flags, said Linda Schmerber, with the Jennings Historical Society.

"However, incorporated in 1946, Jennings did not have a flag. So bank president Albert R. Naunheim contacted then Mayor Oliver Koeneman, offering to organize and provide prizes for a flag contest to design a city flag," she said.

The winner - who received a $100 savings bond - was Roberta Elfrink, then an eighth-grader at the old St. Louise deMarillac Catholic School.

"Her design was a solid navy blue background with a single centered red and white North Star," Schmerber said.

That flag was revised in 1996, the community's 50th anniversary, adding white block words "Jennings Missouri Incorporated 1946."

Winchester's flag was the creation of then 14-year-old Harold Holmes Jr., who was the winner of a flag design contest in February 1979.

"According to Harold, the design was brought about because he felt that Winchester was a good city to live in. It was a safe, family oriented place where everyone knew their neighbors," City Administrator Barbara Beckett Beckett said.

His tree idea came from his visits to Reber Park.

"Harold lived on a street named Evergreen so he thought the evergreen tree was appropriate. The roots on his tree were significant to the flag phrase 'the place to plant your roots,' which followed his idea that Winchester was a good place to raise a family," Beckett said.

Sunset Hills' flag has underdergone various incarnations but reflects local input is Sunset Hills' flag, which "is symbolic of the natural beauty of the surroundings and lovely sunsets, as reflected in the city's name," said City Clerk Laura Rider.

In 1998, to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the city's police department, Communications Officer David Knight designed a new flag, replacing one dating from 1976. After Sunset Hills celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2007, the flag was redesigned with the assistance of a design firm, Rider said.

In 2008, the anniversary years were removed, resulting in the current flag.

Ferguson resident Dave Proost, 71, was the winner of a contest in 1994 to create the graphic design for that city's flag.

"I was surprised to win the contest - I don't know how many high school artists I beat out," Proost said.

His design shows the historic Ferguson Wabash railroad station along with various squares in the flag background to represent the diversity of the community.

Crestwood officially adopted its city flag in 1973, after holding a design contest for residents. William Shana won first place.

Occasionally, a city flag's history includes a little goof.

According to Rosemary Davison with Historic Florissant, Inc., the winning design for that city's first and only city flag was approved in 1971. At the top of the flag is the city seal.

"Florissant should have been spelled "Fleurissant," she said.

The date of 1786 represents the date of the first civil government, and the lion, fleur-de-lis and eagle represent the three flags that have flown over Florissant - Spanish, French and American.

A "v" represents the Valley of Flowers. Nine fleur-de-lis represent the city's nine wards.

"The white represents a clean, healthy city and the green represents the gift of rich, fertile land," Davison said.

And some communities, like Woodson Terrace and Ballwin, simply don't have a flag - at least not now.

"We had a flag once but no one seems to know what became of it," Ballwin City Administrator Bob Kuntz said.

Here are the answers to last week's flag quiz:

1 - Florissant

2 - St. Louis

3 - Ferguson

4 - Winchester

5 - Frontenac

6 - Festus

7 - Sunset Hills