Representative wants to change state flag

Tuesday, January 25th 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- A state representative wants to remove the word `Oklahoma' from the Oklahoma state flag. Rep. Bill Nations, D-Norman, is introducing a bill that would accomplish his goal, although he said he would reconsider if others give him a good reason why Oklahoma is on the flag. "Did Leonardo Da Vinci spread his name in big letters across the Mona Lisa?" Nations said. He noted that only a few states have their names on their flags. "We got more important things to do than deal with that," said state Rep. Charles Gray, D-Oklaoma City. "I mean, people wouldn't know whose flag it was."

Oklahoma's first flag consisted of a red field with a white, five-pointed star edged in blue. I the center of the star was the figure "46" because Oklahoma was the 46th state. In 1925, that was replaced by a flag bearing an Osage shield and a peace pipe. The word "Oklahoma" was added to that design in 1941 and it has remained that way since. Nations' bill, House Bill 2409, has been assigned to the House Rules Committee.