Editing Flag of Missouri (section)

== Design ==
The flag is a tricolor consisting of three horizontal stripes of red, white, and blue which resembles the flag of the [[Netherlands]]. These represent valor, purity, vigilance, and justice. The colors also reflect the state's historic status as part of [[Louisiana (New France)|French Louisiana]]. In the center white stripe is the [[seal of Missouri]], circled by a blue band containing 24 stars, symbolizing Missouri's admission as the 24th [[U.S. state]].<ref name="mo.gov" />

It is one of two U.S. state flags to feature a bear, the other being the flag of [[Flag of California|California]]. It is also one of nine U.S. state flags to feature an eagle, alongside those of [[Flag of Illinois|Illinois]], [[Flag of Iowa|Iowa]], [[Flag of Michigan|Michigan]], [[Coat of arms of New York|New York]], [[Flag of North Dakota|North Dakota]], [[Flag of Oregon|Oregon]], [[Flag of Pennsylvania|Pennsylvania]], and [[Flag of Wyoming|Wyoming]].

In 2001, the [[North American Vexillological Association]] surveyed its members on the designs of the 72 [[U.S. state]], [[Territories of the United States|U.S. territorial]] and [[Provinces and territories of Canada|Canadian provincial]] flags. The Missouri flag ranked in the bottom 25, 48th out of the 72.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://nava.org/digital-library/design/surveys/2001-State-Provincial-Flag-Survey.pdf|title=2001 State/Provincial Flag Survey - NAVA.org|work=nava.org}}</ref>