Pocatello flag design ad-hoc committee holds first meeting

A dozen people representing the Gate City community met at City Hall Tuesday for the first time to begin the process of designing a new city flag.

Pocatello’s flag gained some national spotlight last year when it was revealed to be considered the worst flag in North America by the North American Vexillological Association. Roman Mars, a journalist who reports on design, gave the classification attention during his Ted Talk “Why city flags may be the worst-designed thing you’ve never noticed.”

Mars was present at the meeting, and he stressed a main point from his Ted Talk: A well-designed flag will incite pride.

“It represents that the city cares about how it views itself to its citizens and how its citizens should be reflected in the outside world,” Mars said.

Kasi Beorchia, a 10-year Pocatello resident and member of the committee, said pride is exactly what she wants to create with the flag. Especially with her kids.

“I’m excited about being a part of this at the ground level,” Beorchia said. “We will fly the flag at my house, I know that for sure. My kids are going to see it and I want them to know I love my community and I wanted to do something about it.”

Mars said his money is on Pocatello to make a great flag.

“You have all the interested parties, the shareholders, they’re all on-board and at the table,” he said. “You have the mayor’s office, people from the community in different aspects– that’s the real key.”

Beorchia has her money on her beloved city, too.

“This is it, I think we’re just ripe for good change,” she said.

All meetings are open to the public. They are scheduled on Wednesdays at 4 p.m. at Pocatello City Hall for the time being.

For the curious, when asked what his favorite flag is, Mars said Chicago was his favorite.