Union City Ohio Adopts Community Flag

The 2020 inspiration for Union City’s shared flag was the tragic death of then Union City, Ohio mayor John Fields.

Indiana mayor Chad Spence wanted to recognize Fields’ service by lowering the American flag to half-staff but learned that mayors do not have that authority. He conceived a city flag that could be lowered in honor of high-profile local citizens.

Spence authorized alternative flag designs, all conveying the uniqueness of a single municipality divided by the state line.

Realizing that the design could be usable on either side of the Indiana-Ohio line, he reached out to Mayor Duane Pouder to suggest joint adoption of a flag that could also symbolize the possibilities of future cooperation in the revitalization of Union City. 

Both Ohio and Indiana citizens participated in the vote to select the winning design.

The vision became a shared reality on May 5, 2021 when the Union City, Ohio council voted to adopt the flag.