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By Hannah Askew
An online petition to change the Elizabethton City Flag has reached over 80 signatures over the last week. The petition was started by lifelong resident Theodore Cannon, 19, who believes the current Elizabethton flag falls short in representing the city’s rich cultural heritage.

Cannon’s petition calls on the Elizabethton City Council to remove the current flag and replace it with a different design. Cannon’s petition also proposed a new design for the Elizabethton City Flag illustrating the Covered Bridge.

The current flag for the city of Elizabethton resembles the Tennessee State Flag with a seal in the top left corner. Cannon voices that a new design could promote the city’s history, culture, and natural beauty more effectively.

“We have so many symbols in this town like Betsy, the Covered Bridge, and the Veterans Monument. I really feel like a flag could help install some pride in the place we live in rather than having a random design,” Cannon said.

Cannon has always been interested in flags and is passionate about the symbols they stand for. According to Cannon, he feels as if the current flag is outdated, unimaginative, and aimless.

“Every time you go by the utilities building downtown, beside the Tennessee flag, there’s another flag below, but if you ask anyone in the town, no one knows what it is. I honestly feel like every place needs a good flag. Flags are an important symbol of community, and our current flag is very disappointing,” Cannon said.

Cannon also suggests a flag-designing contest could bring unity and attention to the Elizabethton community.

If you would like to sign the online petition, visit https://www.change.org/p/change-the-flag-of-elizabethton?redirect=false.