Message from Mayor Josh Losardo | 4/2/21
When I first joined the Township Council, I quietly noticed that there was no town flag in the council chambers, nor did there seem to be any located at the other public buildings or municipal parks in Scotch Plains.
Meanwhile, as I drove through our neighboring communities, I kept noticing that all of these towns are waving municipal flags. As Scotch Plains is such a proud community with deep history, I began wondering: Could it be that Scotch Plains does not have its own flag?
Rather than further torturing myself over a question that seems easily answerable, I went to the town historians to ask if a flag exists for Scotch Plains. The history buffs were happy to respond, providing more information that I ever knew could exist.
The short answer: Yes, Scotch Plains has a flag.
The longer answer: In 1959, township officials adopted the current municipal seal to celebrate the 275th anniversary of Scotch Plains. In September 1973, the governing body considered various proposals for a flag to be created and, in May 1974, the town’s flag was officially unveiled as the town hall was dedicated.
Of course, our historians were also able to dig out the exact clipping from the Courier News dated May 31, 1974, showing the town’s seal stitched on a flag of blue.
Hats off to former Mayor George Johnson, who created the seal. Featured at the center is the Scottish Thistle, which is used in the Royal Badge of Scotland. There’s also a stagecoach, cannon and Indian arrows and feathers to symbolize the township’s history.
While there appeared to be plenty of pride in the town flag on that day in 1974, somehow it lost its prominence over the decades. We were able to find one remaining flag in the basement of town hall, and I have to admit it has seen better days. The flag is now off to get dry cleaned.
We can and must do better. Scotch Plains is now securing flags that will be flown at all municipal buildings and other locations around town. It is the hope that the flags will become synonymous with the pride that we all have in living in this great community.
We look forward to dedicating the flags with you this spring, as we continue to celebrate Scotch Plains.
