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  • Flag concept for Huntsville, created by Xaphedo, a Reddit user
Flag concept for Huntsville, created by Xaphedo, a Reddit user

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – A man’s pitch for a new symbol in Huntsville has gained attention online.  He posted it on Reddit and it’s brought in comments from all sides.

The Reddit user, Xaphedo, titled his post ‘Dear Huntsville, I want to give you a flag.’

“I’ll admit, I’m not a Huntsvillian myself. I’m not from Madison County. I’m not from Alabama. I’m not from the USA. I’ve never even set foot on the Americas. I was born and raised in Italy.

But see, the world has become this beautiful place where one can appreciate things which are so very far. Day after day, we are struck in awe as man and machine tell us more and more about space and its bodies. If one can do that, I hope I can admire Huntsville as well.

How can I show my admiration, then? And I mean it in a proactive, useful way.

Xaphedo said he created the image over the last three days in his spare time.  He said it incorporates ‘The Star of Alabama,’ which is the theme of its 2009 logo, and also includes a rocket because space engineering remains “the most recognizable activity linked to Huntsville.”

Directional arrows on a sign downtown, created by reddit user Xaphedo
Directional arrows on a sign downtown, created by Reddit user Xaphedo

He says it’s a gift to the city and he doesn’t want anything in return except due credit.  He created other artwork depicting where the image can be used, including directional pointers on a sign.

Many Reddit posters were supportive of the flag.

“Well, this is pretty rad,” user apollorockit said.

“It’s so cool that you put so much thought and effort into a design for a city that you’ve never even been to, on another continent. Molte grazie,” said user pipsohop.

What does the City think?

Will this design go anywhere in Huntsville?

WHNT News 19 reached out to the Mayor’s office to ask for their take.

“We appreciate the thoughtful comments on Reddit about the possibility of Huntsville creating and adopting an official city flag,” said Kelly Cooper Schrimsher, Director of Communications for Mayor Battle.  “It is interesting to see the image of a rocket continue to pop up in popular designs associated with Huntsville. You see the rocket on t-shirts at Lowe Mill and on many logos for organizations branding themselves as Huntsville proud. Now we see a new variation offered by someone in Italy! We have long known Huntsville’s reputation as a Rocket City is a global one, and this is further proof of our impact and leadership on the race to conquer outer space.”

“If the City of Huntsville does decide to curate and create an official flag, there is an internal process we would undertake, and that is certainly a possibility in the future,” Schrimsher added.