English: Flag of Syracuse, New York. Named "First Light", it was created by eighth-generation Syracusan and designer, Eric Hart. It was adopted by the Syracuse Common Council on June 20, 2023. It replaces the previous city flag, adopted in 1915, that prominently featured the city seal on a white field with two light-blue bars above and below.
The flag's designer, Eric Hart, named the flag "First Light." The name is pulled from an accompanying written piece authored by Hart during the flag's creation titled, "The First Light Credo."
Symbolism
The Star
Symbolizes the Six-Nations of the Haudenosaunee, of which the Onondaga Nation plays a central role.
Symbolizes the six historical names by which Syracuse has been known: Salt Point, Webster’s Landing, Bogardus Corners, Milan, South Salina, and Cossits’ Corners (not incl. Corinth).
Symbolizes the Sun, a guiding light, the North Star.
Its central placement on the flag marks Syracuse’s central location in New York.
Mirrored Triangles
Symbolizes the hills of Onondaga. The word onoñda’gega’ means, “people of the hills” in the Onondaga language. The left, azure blue triangle is the hill westward toward W. Seneca Trpk. or Hiawatha Lake. The right, navy blue triangle is the hill eastward toward E. Seneca Trpk. or Thornden Park. The space between the triangles is the Onondaga Valley.
Star Set Between Triangles
Symbolizes the sunrise over the Onondaga Valley. This is described in a line from Syracuse University’s Alma Mater, ”…where the vale of Onondaga meets the Eastern sky.” Represents a new day, a bright future, and good fortunes ahead.
Orange Star on White
Symbolizes history of using the Sun to pull white salt from our salt springs. It also represents the Sun warming during our cold, white winters.
The Chevron
Symbolizes the Roman numeral “V” indicating the five Syracuse Common Council Districts. It also represents “The V-Sign,” international symbol for peace and friendship.
Three Distinct Triangles
Symbolic of the city’s past, present and future. The left triangle points to the past. The central triangle points to the present. The right triangle points toward the future. It represents Syracuse across the ages. Syracuse: for now and forever.
Orange
Symbolic of: The Sun, Regeneration, Restoration, Courage, Passion, Creativity
White
Symbolic of: Salt, Snow, Peace, Purity
Azure Blue
Symbolic of: Onondaga Lake, the Erie Canal, Perseverance, Intelligence
Navy Blue
Symbolic of: The hills of Onondaga, Trust, Loyalty, Industriousness
The hoist-side triangle forms a 90-degree angle in the bottom-left corner of the flag. Its hypotenuse extends from the upper-left corner down to the midpoint of the bottom edge of the flag.
The fly-end triangle forms a 90-degree angle in the bottom-right corner of the flag. Its hypotenuse extends from the upper-right corner down to the midpoint of the bottom edge of the flag.
The angles opposite of the vertical legs of both right triangles must meet precisely at the midpoint of the bottom edge of the flag.
The acute angles of the right triangles will differ depending on which aspect ratio is used.
The Star
The star must have six points.
The six points consist of six identical acute triangles whose vertices open toward the center of the star at 37 degrees.
Star Placement & Scale
Star in 1:2 aspect ratio
The star's vertical placement is determined by stacking 11 identically sized stars vertically, point to point on the midline, and identifying the 5th star from the top as the “source star.”
The star must be scaled proportionally from the center of the “source star” at a scale of +7.0x.
The star must be center-aligned along the x-axis.
Star in 3:5 aspect ratio
The star's vertical placement is determined by stacking 9 identically sized stars vertically, point to point on the midline, and identifying the 4th star from the top as the “source star.”
The star must be scaled proportionally from the center of the “source star” at a scale of +5.4x.
The star must be center-aligned along the x-axis.
Star in 2:3 aspect ratio
The star's vertical placement is determined by stacking 4 identically sized stars vertically, point to point on the midline, and identifying the 2nd star from the top as the “source star.”
The star must be scaled proportionally from the center of the “source star” at a scale of +2.3x.
The star must be center-aligned along the x-axis.
Colors
The four colors of the “First Light” flag are Orange, White, Azure Blue, and Navy Blue. The color specifications as defined by “First Light” flag designer Eric Hart are:
Color scheme
Orange
White
Azure Blue
Navy Blue
Pantone
PMS 165
No PMS
PMS 549
PMS 282
RGB
255–103–31
255–255–255
107–164–184
4–30–66
Hex
#FF671F
#FFFFFF
#6BA4B8
#041E42
CMYK
0%–74%–96%–0%
0%–0%–0%–0%
59%–23%–21%–0%
100%–87%–41%–50%
The star must be “Orange.”
The hoist-side triangle must be “Azure Blue."
The fly-end triangle must be “Navy Blue."
In most cases, on-screen or digital reproductions of the flag should use the RGB colors as in the table above. When displaying in physical fabric formats, it is much preferred to use the Pantone specifications. When printing on paper, the CMYK colors are superior.
Extending the bottom edge
During creative explorations the bottom edge of the flag may be extended beyond its standard bounds. When doing so:
The navy blue must always be extended diagonally in such a way that it overlaps the azure blue.
Another way to think of it:
Imagine the flag is wearing a robe. The navy blue side of the robe on the flag’s left side (the observer’s right side) must overlap the azure blue side of the robe on the flag’s right (the observer’s left). This must always be the case.
Display orientation
Flagpole
Horizontal display on flagpole.
Vertical display on flagpole.
Angular display on outrigger flagpole.
Mounting in horizontal orientation.
Mounting in vertical orientation.
Horizontal
When flown on a flagpole horizontally the flag must be affixed to the halyard via the azure-blue hoist side of the flag. It must be affixed to the halyard in such an orientation that the star rests in the uppermost segment. The angles opposite of the vertical legs of both right triangles must meet in the bottom-most segment.
Vertical
When flown on a flagpole vertically the flag must be displayed in such an orientation that the star rests in the rightmost segment. The azure blue triangle must rest in the uppermost segment. The navy blue triangle must rest in the bottom-most segment. The converging points of the right triangles must meet in the leftmost segment.
Outrigger
When flown at an angle on an outrigger flagpole the flag must be affixed to the halyard via the azure-blue hoist side of the flag. It must be affixed to the halyard in such an orientation that the star rests in the uppermost segment. The angles opposite of the vertical legs of both right triangles must meet in the bottom-most segment.
Mounted
Horizontal
When wall mounted horizontally the flag must be displayed following the same orientation rules as when it is flown on a flagpole horizontally.
Vertical
When wall mounted vertically the flag must be displayed following the same orientation rules as when it is flown on a flagpole vertically.