Skokie Mayor Ann Tennes recently addressed a gathering outside the village hall. She stood before a crowd as the new village flag, adorned in vibrant green, yellow, and orange hues, fluttered behind her. The occasion marked the unveiling of Skokie’s new flag, designed through an inclusive community process.
Tennes expressed gratitude towards the 80 individuals who submitted designs for the flag and the 700 participants who provided feedback and voted on the final options. The efforts of many in the community culminated in this significant emblem for Skokie.
Buddy Boor, alongside his wife Chelsea, moved to Skokie from Chicago recently. The couple was moved by the community’s warmth, which inspired Boor to attempt his hand at the flag’s design. He reflected on how to symbolize Skokie, considering elements like flowers and cattails, yet found his answer in the people themselves.
“What makes Skokie such a special place is not where we are, but who we are,” Boor stated.
The flame in the flag holds three symbolic meanings according to Boor. First is its connection to the ‘Skokie Spirit’ during the late 1970s, a time when a neo-Nazi group planned to march in the town, home to many Holocaust survivors. During this time, the village united against hate, as represented by the flame design in a stained glass piece by Joe Folise in 1978.
Second, the flag honors the Potawatomie tribe, early inhabitants of the region known as the ‘keepers of the fire.’ Boor emphasized the importance of connecting the new flag design to the indigenous essence of the place.
Lastly, the flag stands as a beacon of welcome. Skokie, one of the most diverse Illinois communities, has embraced a variety of cultures—reflecting the melting pot that has become integral to its identity.
After the flag raising ceremony with Patrick Deignan, Skokie’s communications and community engagement director, Boor expressed his excitement and hope that the flag would serve Skokie well.
Mayor Ann Tennes elaborated on the flag’s symbolic representation of unity and resilience, stating, “Our community has a unique, not just opportunity, but obligation to be a shining example of kindness, respect, support, and upstanding for the rest of the world.” She stressed the importance of community effort in maintaining these values.
The Flag Review Panel was composed of:
- Michelle Beatrice, art educator from Skokie School District 73.5
- Ami Koenig of Ami Koenig Design
- Randy Payne from Randy Payne Design
- Pam Sloan, artist and Village of Skokie Fine Arts Commission member
- Patrick Deignan, Village of Skokie communications & engagement director
- Meredith Gioia, communications manager and Fine Arts Commission staff liaison
- Patrick Biederer, artist and member of Village of Skokie Building & Inspection Services