The New Mexico State Flag has been praised by flag lovers as the best flag among US States. In 1929 a contest to design the new state flag was won by Harry Mera of Santa Fe, New Mexico. Mera was an archaeologist who was familiar with the Zia Sun symbol found at Zia Pueblo on a 19th-century pot. The symbol has sacred meaning to the Zia. Four is a sacred number which symbolizes the Circle of Life: the four directions, the four times of day, the four stages of life, and the four seasons. The circle binds the four elements of four together. His winning design is the flag that the state uses today. The salutation, "I salute the flag of the State of New Mexico and the Zia symbol of perfect friendship among united cultures", is commonly recited in New Mexico public schools after the United States pledge of allegiance. The North American Vexillological Association (a group dedicated to the scientific and scholarly study of flags) held an online survey open to the public to rank the state flags and New Mexico was declared the best. "Red and yellow recall the state's Spanish heritage, while the sun symbol comes from the Zia Indians. This distinctive flag appears on the state's license plates and flies widely across the state," -- Ted Kaye, author of "Good Flag, Bad Flag" I collect flags and love the lore behind them. I am justifiably proud of my state’s flag. This is a #repost from @relicsreincarnated via @PhotoAroundApp #NewMexico #NewMexicoFlag #BestStateFlag #NewMexicoStateFlag #Vexillology #Flags #LandOfEnchatment https://www.instagram.com/p/CDdRANzFi2s/?igshid=111p9y0b7s8ib
