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Wrangell, Alaska (U.S.)

City and Borough

image by Valentin Poposki, 8 June 2020

Town flag code

See also:

Town flag code

TITLE 1: General Provisions

Chapter 1.08: City Flag

1.08.010 Description. The official flag of the city is an emblem of four sides, and four angles of ninety degrees each. The background or field shall be white. In the center of the flag shall be a totem house in black above which are eight gold stars situated in the form of the big Dipper. The totem house and stars shall be encircled by two circles, set apart so that a circle of equal width is formed by the field of white; the inner circle shall be blue, and the outer circle shall be red. Around the outer border of the red circle shall be the words "WRANGELL" and "GATEWAY TO THE STIKINE" in blue, Roman face lettering. To the upper left of the center a gold-colored fish shall be positioned so that the head of the fish points toward the upper section of the red circle; and to the upper right of center shall be a fir tree in black. (Ord. 271 Sec 4(part), 1972: prior code Sec. 01.30.010)

1.08.020 Interpretation. The red, white, and blue represent the colors of the American flag. The eight stars of gold compliment the Alaskan flag. The Shakes House stands for our native culture and is Wrangell's nationally known landmark. The salmon represents one of Wrangell's largest industries, including sport and commercial fishing. The tree represents the forest, the logging and the sawmills, industries constituting a large part of Wrangell's economy. (Ord. 271 Sec. 4(part), 1972: prior code Sec. 01.30.105).

1.08.030 Use. The following rules and regulations shall govern the use of the city flag:

When the flag is displayed out of doors, it must be either on a flagpole or staff and the staff should be at least two and one-half times as long as the flag. The flag is always attached at the spearhead end of the staff, and the heading must be made of material strong enough to protect the flag.
The flag should not be unfurled out of doors earlier than sunrise, and it should be taken down and furled, not later than sunset. The flag may be flown for any length of time between sunrise and sunset as may be directed by the council.
The flag should not be left unfurled in inclement weather, such as rain, sleet, snow, hail, or storm, and it should not be left outdoors at night.
The flag should be hoisted briskly, and furled slowly.
The flag should not be fastened in such a manner that it can be torn easily.
The flag should be on the marching left when it is carried in a procession in which the flag of the United States of America and the flag of the State of Alaska are unfurled.
The flag should be on the left of the flag of the United States of American and the flag of the State of Alaska, and its staff should be behind the staff of the national and state colors when the three are displayed against a wall from crossed staffs. When the flag is flown from the same halyard as the United States flag and the State of Alaska flag, it must be underneath the national and state colors.
When the flag is flown on a flagpole adjacent to the flagpoles on which the flags of the United States of American and the State of Alaska are flown, it must be unfurled after both of the national and state colors and it must be displayed at the left of the flags of the United States of American and the State of Alaska.
When the flag is displayed at the same time with the national flag and the state flag, they should be flown on separate flagpoles of equal length. Where only two staffs or flagpoles are available, the city flag may be displayed on the pole or staff to the left of the national colors and below the state colors.
When the flag is flown from a window sill, balcony or front of a building and flat against the wall, it should be on a staff.
When the flag is displayed on a speaker's platform at the same time as the national flag and the state flag, the city flag should be on the left side of the speaker.
The flag should never be used to cover a platform or speaker's desk nor to drape over the front of a speaker's platform.
When the flag is displayed flat on the wall of a platform, it should be above the speaker.
When the flag is displayed on a motor vehicle, the staff should be fastened firmly to the front of the vehicle.
When the flag is displayed on a float in a parade, it should always be attached securely to a staff.
The flag should not be allowed to touch the ground or the floor or to trail in water.
The flag should not be draped over the hood, top, sides or back of any vehicle or of a railroad train, boat or airplane.
The flag may be displayed or printed on clothing, athletic uniforms, bumper stickers, decals, shoulder patches, etc.; provided, however, that before any such display or printing, any person desiring to do so must first obtain a permit from the city. The purpose of the permit is merely to assure that the persons intending to so display the flag may be fully advised of the flag emblem use and display regulations; there shall be no charge for the permit.
The flag should not have any printing or lettering of any kind placed upon it except as has been adopted officially.
No advertisements of any kind may be attached to the flag, flagpole or staff.
The flag should not be used for purposes of decoration, either over the middle of streets or as a covering for automobiles or floats in a parade or for draping speaker's platforms or stands, or for any other similar purpose of decoration.
The flag should not be carried flat or horizontally but always aloft and free as it is carried in a parade.
The flag is flown at half mast by first raising it to the top of the flagpole and then slowly lowering it to a position one-fourth of the distance down the flagpole and there leaving it during the time it is to be displayed, observing the rule that it must not be raised before sunrise and must be taken down each day before sunset. In taking the flag down it should be first raised to the top of the flagpole and then slowly lowered.
The flag should not be displayed, used and stored in such a manner that it can be easily soiled or otherwise damaged.
When the flag is in such condition of repair that it is no longer a suitable emblem for displaying, it should be totally destroyed by burning.
(Ord. 274 Sec. 5, 1972; Ord. 271 Sec. 4(part), 1972: prior code Sec. 01.30.020).

Valentin Poposki, 28 August 2005

This is maybe the last chance to see this flag, because Wrangell changed its status and now is county-level entity, officially called City and Borough of Wrangell, since May 30th 2008.
Valentin Poposki, 10 April 2009

Wrangell was established as a city in 1903. It became a merged city-county government in 2008 (in Alaska, the county-level entities are called boroughs).
Dave Fowler, 8 June 2020