More than 200 of the first 300 Gadsden Flag specialty license plates in Mississippi have been reserved, according to supporting organization officials. Once all 300 are claimed, vehicle owners across the state will be able to purchase the plates at their local county tax collector’s office, said Bill Lee, a supporter of the project.
Lee told the Magnolia Tribune Wednesday that 207 of the 300 tags necessary for production have been claimed. The initial 300 tags are free thanks to a donation, but once they are gone, the specialty plates will be available for purchase.
Mississippians interested in reserving the Gadsden Flag plate can submit a request form online. The effort is led by the Declaration of Independence Center for the Study of American Freedom at the University of Mississippi.
Proceeds from the sale of the plates will fund programs that promote freedom and liberty studies at colleges throughout the state, not only at Ole Miss, officials said. The Gadsden Flag features a coiled rattlesnake on a yellow background with the words “Don’t Tread On Me,” a symbol dating back to the American Revolution.
The flag originally served as the personal ensign of Commodore Esek Hopkins, the first naval commander in chief of the United States, and became a rallying symbol for revolutionary fighters fighting for independence from Britain.
Jon Ross Myers is the executive editor and publisher of the Mississippi News Network, Mississippi's largest digital only media company. He can be reached at editor@tippahnews.com
