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Continued from Page C-l and declared that West Florida was a part of the Louisiana Purchase. So after an exlstance of only 74 days, the stout little Republic of West Florida ceased to be one of the nations of the world.
Star Spangled Banner 1811-1861
?	The Star Spangled Banner; a flag of 15 stars and 15 stripes, was the flag hoisted over the Gulf Coast when It became American territory. This was the first time the Coast was under an American flag, a unique flag because It had a stripe for each of the original 13 colonies plus one each for Vermont and Kentucky. The plan had been to add a stripe for each new state as It Joined the Union, but as the nation expanded and the flag grew, this plan had to be dropped. In
1818 the return was made to the original design of 13 stripes; however, It was the flag of 15 stripes under which the Coast joined the Mississippi territory. In 1817 Mississippi became the nation?s 20th state and honored David Holmes by electing him its first governor.
Magnolia State Flag 1861-1894 and Mississippi Flag 1894-Present
?	War was in the air In 1861 when Mississippi passed the Ordinance of Secession, severing Its connection with the United States. Being the second state to secede from the Union, Mississippi thus became the Sovereign Republic of Mlsslssppl. Down came the American flag and In its place, the Magnolia State flag was raised. On the Gulf Coast at that time, the tiny City of Biloxi flourished and the first alderman was elected. According to the City of Biloxi?s records, Francis Meaut was
Two more of the Gulf Coast's "nine" flags are the Magnolia State Flag, near left, and the current Mississippi State Flag incorporating the Confederate Stars and Bars.
term but served until 1868. The Magnolia flag was retained as official state flag until 1894 when the current Mississippi State flag was adopted.
Confederate Battle Flag 1861-1865
?	In 1861, the Constitution of the Confederate states of America was adopted and the flag of the Confederacy was authorized and raised over the area. For the next four years ? during the Civil War or the War of Rebellion as it was known officially?the Gulf Coast lived and fought side-by-slde with other Southerners, loyal to this flag and Jefferson Davis, history?s only Confederate president.
Old Glory 1865-1981
?	With the close of the Civil Wax, the Confederate battle flag was laid to rest, tattered and worn. The South and the North once again Joined together as the United StateB of America and Old Glory was raised over the ehtire land where It waves proudly today as the symbol of Freedom,
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