We asked middle schoolers to design a US flag. Here are the finalists

Elisabeth Y., an eighth grader from Mercer Island, Washington is named a finalist. In her entry, she wrote, "The United States Constitution starts with 'We The People.' That is what America is made of - the people and their cultures. And one of the most important parts of culture is the food. Food to many is belonging, art, something that everyone can enjoy, and the symbolism of something bigger than themselves. Food brings people together and is a significant part of people’s identities and communities. The dishes of food in my artwork represent the immigrants that have come to America from around the world, as seen through the cannoli from Italy, spring rolls from Vietnam, ramen from Japan, jollof rice from Africa, baklava from the Mediterranean and Middle East, macarons from France, tacos from Mexico, empanadas from South America, green curry from Thailand, and many more. These dishes paint the picture of the diversity and vibrancy of the American people. Despite the differences, the dishes are all together on a single spread, symbolizing diverse cultures coming together and becoming a unified nation. Furthermore, the table cloth beneath the dishes of food is the American flag, a symbol of America. The American flag is positioned with the blue section to the right, which represents America moving forward, as this position makes the flag appear to be blowing in the wind. This version of the American flag is often used on the arms of military uniforms, symbolizing the flag flying as the military men and women run into battle. It is a symbol that bands people together as they face the most difficult situations. It is through these difficult situations that people unite, love, and care for each other. Through my artwork, I have tried to represent how people’s love and care for one another unifies our nation. How, instead of dividing us, our diverse backgrounds and cultures can unite us into one community."

Lisa J., a sixth grader from Nashville, Tennessee, is named a finalist. "My flag is based off of the sun, something that we all see every day of our lives," she wrote about her flag design. "The rays of my sun I filled with stripes of colors representing what a melting pot America is. A place of all genders of, of all races, of all mindsets, where everybody is welcome, I really wanted to show that in my flag. Shining brightly in between these stripes of color, I drew three scenes. One is a rocket ship blasting towards the moon. This represents American ingenuity, our ability to persevere through hardship and put man on the moon. We won the space race, and continue to send astronauts into space with projects like the Artemis II mission. The Second, is The Statue of Liberty, an iconic symbol of America. With the broken shackles at its feet representing freedom from tyranny, oppression, and injustice, it welcomes all who enter New York Harbor. The Third is our branches of government, judicial, legislative, and executive. Our democracy is unique to America, each branch filled with multiple members all balancing each other out. All together I wanted my flag to represent unity and perseverance, because my America is a place where everybody belongs, where we can all fit in, I wanted my flag to be a symbol of belonging."

Julieth B., a fifth grader from Conroe, Texas is named a finalist. "The meaning of my flag or artwork is supposed to represent the idea's of equality and freedom," she wrote in her entry. "This is shown by the various colors in the artwork, showing that all colors in harmony make a beautiful artwork all together. I did the artwork in a colorful collage, Zentangle art style. Made by putting colors together in harmony by a tiny tweezer. Creating my flag was a long, hefty process showing that equality is not attainable in a short time, but could be attainable by paying attention to details on each individual shape, and nonetheless; bonding them together despite their different colors, or for example, races. This artwork is supposed to symbolize colors coming together to make a beautiful, peaceful artwork. The reason I made it in a Zentangle art style, is not only because I wanted to challenge myself with a long, hefty process that came out successful in the end, its also because I wanted to show how Colors together make a beautiful bond."

Noa D., a seventh grader from Miami, Florida is named a finalist. "The reason behind me choosing this design is so I have a flag that represents America in my eyes," she wrote. "In the years America was established, people 's view of others has changed, and I wanted to show that so others understand why America is great in my opinion. I made the fifty stars all different colors to resemble the unity of America for accepting everyone of different race, religion, and color of their skin . I crocheted the flag so it is a part of my hobbies so it is more like me because I love to do crafts and try new things. Crocheting is when you use a tool called a crochet hook where it's basically like a pen with a hook at the end and you use that tool to interlock loops of yarn or other string like material to create a fabric like result. I find it important for people to show their creativity and express their uniqueness because we have come a long way in America for us not to be treated badly for being different, unique and ourselves. I decided to make my flag based off the American flag as a celebration for America becoming two-hundred and fifty years old. I believe it’s important to celebrate the freedom we were given on the 4th of July because I find that we should be grateful for the freedom our forefathers fought for. Crocheting my flag took time and effort each color symbolizes how varied America is to the citizens."

Anjali B., a fifth grader from Oyster Bay, New York is named a finalist. In her entry, she wrote, "I created this drawing to show all of the ways that the 51 states are united and how peoples impact affected the states. I chose the American flag and the LGBTQ flag to represent how every community is equal, and they shouldn’t be discriminated on their beliefs. I chose to use a woman as a model because I believe that women have impacted the United States just as much as the men have. As a background, I wrote in Latin 'Nos sunt quae radices nostram ext.' This means that we are the ones that are our roots this is an homage to having roots in your hair and roots in your soul. We are the ones that are our roots means that you are who you are and you shouldn’t have to hide your roots. This also means that everyone is different. This is also something that is showing the roots that we have in our connections to the land that we live in that we cherish, and we work hard for and we, fight for and we protect. What I hope my flag symbolizes is where we come from, that everyone is different, people can make a change, we shouldn’t be discriminated by our beliefs, and that America is the home of the brave and the land of the free. I created this drawing to show all of the ways that the 50 states are united and their cooperative efforts make this country what it is. I chose the American flag and the LGBTQ flag to represent how every community is equal, and they shouldn’t be discriminated against based on their beliefs, gender, or disability. I chose to use a woman as a model because I believe that women have impacted the United States every bit as much as men have. As a background, I wrote in Latin 'Nos sunt quae radices nostram ext.' This means that we are the ones that are our roots. This is an dual meaning: having roots in your hair and roots in your soul. We are the ones that are our roots means that you are who you are and you shouldn’t have to hide your origin or true nature. This also means that everyone is different. This is also something that shows the roots that we have in our connections to the land that we live in, cherish, and we work hard for - that we fight for and protect. What I hope my flag symbolizes is where we come from, that everyone is different, people can make a change, and that we should all be treated equally - that America is the home of the brave and the land of the free and that not despite, but because of all of these differences, we all make up the amazing place we now call home. Symbols are easily recognizable ways of uniting people. Democracy isn’t just people out in charge by the masses. They are public servants working for our sakes, to better our society. These symbols remind of the principles of 'we the people' in a representative democracy. Creating my flag deepened my understanding of democracy by showing me that democracy is not just a system of government, but the different people we trust that are going out of their way to treat our cultures and communities fairly and make all of our lives better. They do this so we can all live peacefully, no matter who we are."

Victoria K., a sixth grader from Temecula, California is named a finalist. "The flag that I made represents unity, diversity, and cohesion," she wrote. "It shows that we are all one nation under God and that we are all equal- no matter what our outside looks like. And even though we are all different in our own way, the same color of blood runs through our veins. It shows the strength that people have from different backgrounds and races. But it also shows that we are in this together. Not just as a nation, but as a community. The hands represent different races from all over the world that live in America. Because in America, we are not just one race. We just live in America and have that nationality. My flag shows how far we have come in unity and acceptance. It shows we are not just one boring color. Each and every race, nationality, and skin color is beautiful. My flag represents freedom and still includes the red and white stripes and the stares in the corner. It symbolizes cooperation and liberty under one nation. It shows that we don’t have to be perfect. Because imperfection is beauty. And most importantly, we are one."

Ivanka L., an eighth grader from Brooklyn, New York is named a finalist. "The reason why I drew an eagle for a part of my flag is because the eagle represents power, freedom and wisdom," she wrote. "I drew the eagle spreading its wings to show strength and unity and that it isn't bound to the ground and can soar into the sky and can fly high. I drew the eagle because it is the national animal of the United States and contains a lot of importance. I used vibrant colors to make it pop and look more appealing. I also drew the Eagle on a branch to show that even though it is standing now it can fly away whenever it wants. For the background I used color pencils to make the look of splattered paint. For the flag in the background I made it fading away at the sides to create a more interesting artwork. I choose to draw the American flag colors on the eagle’s wings because as it spreads its wings open it reveals a shocking detail. It proudly displays the flag's colors to represent bravery, innocence, and justice. It shows that it's very proud of one's country and that it’s worth displaying. I demonstrated a fierce look on the eagle's face to represent how fearless the United States is."

Dillan D., an eighth grader from Saline, Michigan is named a finalist. "The meaning of my flag, is that together, the people in America are what really unite and make it a country," she wrote. "I tried to show that when everyone can come together, that is what makes up the United States of America. The connected hands are to show people coming together and being the biggest and most important part of the country. I used grey on the outside of the hands and the colors of the real United States flag inside of the connected hands. I decided to keep the original number of stripes and colors of the flag inside of the hands because it shows that the United States can be changed by the people, but the history of it will always be the same. The switch between grey and color on the flag shows the difference between people being united and being separated, but also to show that if we don’t come together, the country will fade and fall apart. The dark line and harsh switch between grey and color shows that there is a huge difference in being divided or united together. Overall, the flag represents everyone in America, coming together to help each other and be the country’s foundation."

Vivien W., an eighth grader from Brooklyn, New York is named a finalist. "My design for America showcases freedom, justice, and opportunity," she wrote about her design. "The gavel stands for our justice system and the need for fairness and equality. Books are there too, to show that learning and success through education are big deals. An American bald eagle takes center stage, embodying freedom, strength, and courage; key values of our country. Using red, white, and blue ties the design to our flag and what it means to be American. This blend shows America as a place where these ideals come together; freedom, justice, learning, and unity."