Orlando celebrates 142nd birthday by raising new flag

ORLANDO, Fla. — The city of Orlando will celebrate its 142nd birthday Monday by raising a new flag.

The flag-raising ceremony starts at 1 p.m. in front of City Hall, with Mayor Buddy Dyer and city commissioners scheduled to attend.

The City Commission approved the new flag design last week.

The Orlando Flag Committee decided to recommend the new design to city commissioners in June.

The new design includes the Lake Eola fountain with a hint of yellow to represent sunshine, hope and happiness.

The blue and white stand for patriotism, perseverance and peace.

The yellow on the flag represents sunshine, hope and happiness. The blue and white stand for patriotism, perseverance and peace.

The City Council agenda item describes the flag's symbolism as follows:

“Orlando's fountain at Lake Eola Park is the most distinctive and recognizable symbol in the city, one that is loved by our residents and enjoyed by our visitors. The water ascending from the fountain represents the continuous flow of energy and innovation that makes Orlando a city on the rise. The six equal segments on the base of the fountain embody the city's six commission districts. The iconic fountain is surrounded by the letter ‘O’, which symbolizes Orlando's unity, connectivity and timelessness. The color yellow represents the sunshine, hope and happiness that thrive in our great city. The reflection of the ‘O’ in the water symbolizes our careful consideration of our past and our bold vision for the future. The flag is set on a two-toned background of blue and white representing patriotism, perseverance and peace.”

The Flag Committee met at least six times before picking from several designs.

Tim Eggert, who created the design, is a University of Central Florida graduate and graphic designer for Kimley-Horn, an Orlando-based engineering firm.

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Cox Media Group