City of Gresham

Flag
Proportions	2:3
Adopted	24 July 1984
Design	The flag is white and has the city seal in the center, with flowering lilac branches at each side.  The seal contains two concentric circles with an image of Mt. Hood in the center, reflected in a lake. Curved within the top part of the ring is written “CITY OF GRESHAM”. Curved in the lower part of the ring is the date “1905”, preceded and followed by three strawberries.  All decoration and printing on the flag is in lavender.
Symbolism	Gresham was incorporated in 1905, and lies about 40 miles west-northwest of Mt. Hood, Oregon’s tallest peak.  Lilac is the official city flower.  Strawberry fields were once common in the area.
How Selected	One of Gresham’s sister cities, Ebetsu, Japan, had given its flag to the city, and Mayor Margaret Weil wanted to return the favor by giving Ebetsu a Gresham flag when she next visited Japan.  Judy Wylie, a city employee, suggested the seal-and-lilacs design and worked with the secretary to the Finance Director, Jo Cunningham, who produced a sample sketch. (Ebitsu received its gift flag in 1984.)
Designer	Judy Wylie conceived the design.  Jo Cunningham drew the artwork.
Notes	There is a variety of lilac named City of Gresham, but its appearance does not match the flag’s artwork. In 2006, Michael Orelove asked Mayor Charles Becker for a used city flag to bring with him to Juneau when he competed against his brother Joel of Juneau, Alaska in the Alaska State Gold Panning championship.  His brother would have the Juneau flag flying behind him as he panned, and Orelove wanted to match his with a Gresham flag.  In addition to giving Orelove a flag, Becker issued a Mayoral Proclamation appointing him Champion for the City of City of Gresham to “carry our banner” at the contest.  (Orelove lost the 2006 competition, but won in 2007, with Gresham’s flag behind him.)
Links	City of Gresham website Gresham City Council Minutes, 26 July 1984 Photo of Jo Cunningham with the flag published in The Oregonian, 28 July 1984 Sandy Post article featuring photo of a Gresham United VFW Post No. 180 World War I Womens Auxiliary flag
Acknowl- edgements	Researcher: Michael Orelove Assistance from the City of Gresham: Teresa A. Hall, City Council Coordinator

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