A New Flag, Making Waves

First Light is all about where we live, who we’ve been, and where we’re headed together

The Syracuse city flag is a distillation of Syracuse as a whole. It’s representative of the totality of our history. It’s symbolic of our land, our people our hopes, and dreams.

Syracuse city flag waving atop a flagpole

The First Light Credo

Dawn’s first light pours over Syracuse, reflecting the hills and valley of Onondaga onto its gleaming lake. Syracuse: “Where the vale of Onondaga meets the Eastern sky.”

We look toward the sun and offer appreciation to the Keepers of the Central Fire and the Six Nations, here since time immemorial.

We salute the sun’s strength and are grateful that it could pull salt from our springs.

We feel the sun’s warmth and are filled with resolve to weather our long, white winters.

We trace the sun’s arc across the sky and choose for ourselves a new, radiant path.

Hearts energized, bodies warmed, minds steeled. We propel ourselves together, ever upward, Syracusans.

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Author: Eric Hart

©2023 Eric Hart, All Rights Reserved

Syracuse to the Core

Even in the smallest details this is a flag rich with Salt City symbolism

Through the use of simple color and shape the First Light flag shares a complex story of our people and personality, our geography and weather, our past and future, and our relationship to our surrounding area.

Anatomy

  • The six-pointed orange star of the Syracuse city flag

    Six-Pointed Star

    Depicts the sun, a guiding light.

    Central placement marks Syracuse’s central location in New York State.

    Symbolizes the six historical names of Syracuse: Salt Point, Webster’s Landing, Bogardus Corners, Milan, South Salina, Cossits’ Corners. (Excludes Corinth)

    Represents the Six Nations of the Haudenosaunee

    Serves as a North Star, honoring the abolition movement in Syracuse.

  • The mirrored blue triangles of the Syracuse city flag

    Mirrored Triangles

    Represents the hills of Onondaga.

    Left triangle: Westward hill toward Hiawatha Lake or W. Seneca Tpke.

    Right triangle: Eastward hill toward Thornden Park or E. Seneca Tpke.

    Space between triangles: Onondaga Valley.

  • The six-pointed orange star of the Syracuse city flag set between two mirrored triangles

    Star Set Between Triangles

    Represents the sunrise over the Onondaga Valley.

    Inspired by Syracuse University’s Alma Mater: “…where the vale of Onondaga meets the Eastern sky.”

    Symbolizes a new day, bright future, and good fortunes ahead.

  • The six-pointed orange star of the Syracuse city flag set within a white triangle

    Orange Star on White

    Represents using the sun to extract white salt from salt springs.

    Symbolizes the sun’s warmth during cold, white winters.

  • The chevron of the Syracuse city flag formed by the intersection of three triangles

    The Chevron

    Symbolizes “The V-Sign,” an international symbol of peace and friendship.

  • The three triangles that form the Syracuse city flag

    Three Distinct Triangles

    Represents the city’s past, present, and future.

    Left triangle: past, central triangle: present, right triangle: future.

    Symbolizes Syracuse across the ages: “for now and forever.”

  • The full design anatomy of the Syracuse city flag

    The Complete First Light Flag

    When it’s all put together a new flag emerges, born from the things that make Syracuse what it is, what it has been, and what it will be.

Colors

  • Sample of the orange color featured on the Syracuse city flag

    Orange

    Symbolic of: The Sun, Regeneration, Restoration, Courage, Passion, Creativity

  • Sample of the azure blue color featured on the Syracuse city flag

    Azure Blue

    Symbolic of: Onondaga Lake, the Erie Canal, Perseverance, Intelligence

  • Sample of the navy blue color featured on the Syracuse city flag

    Navy Blue

    Symbolic of: The hills of Onondaga, Trust, Loyalty, Industriousness

  • Sample of the white color featured on the Syracuse city flag

    White

    Symbolic of: Salt, Snow, Peace, Purity

Visually related to

  • The original Syracuse city flag featuring the city seal

    Original Flag of Syracuse, New York

    The First Light flag shares the sun symbolism and an analogous color family, used as a thread we can trace back to our city’s industrious and long history.

  • Flag of Albany, NY which is visually related to the Syracuse city flag

    Flag of Albany, New York

    Capital of New York State

    The First Light flag shares an analogous color family in gratitude to our state capital and imbues the new flag with a message of togetherness and sharing.

  • Flag of New York City which is visually related to the Syracuse city flag

    Flag of New York City

    An epicenter of global cultural, financial and media influence

    The First Light flag shares an analogous color family, offering appreciation to our state’s most prominent city and conjuring feelings of fellowship and cooperation.

  • Flag of New York State which is visually related to the Syracuse city flag

    Flag of New York State

    The First Light flag shares the sun symbolism, a central chevron “V” shape, and an analogous color family, paying respect to our home state and expressing a sense of camaraderie and partnership.