The Pine Bluff group decided to correct the situation by holding a statewide flag contest.Mr.Hodges was asked to act as custodian（管理人）for entries.Sixtyfive separate designs were entered in the contest.Some were crayon（有色粉笔，蜡笔，粉笔画）drawings and some were flag miniatures on silk.
As the state flower，the apple blossom appeared on a number of designs.One centered with the flower was scattered with stars representing the United States.There were thirteen rays on it for the original states and the colors were red，white and blue.One flag used just the apple blossom，four of them in colorful blocks.Another design used the outline of Arkansas and the state seal with red，white and blue.
Mr.Hodges was chairman of the committee to select the flag and he chose a distinguished list of members：Dr.Junius Jordan，the chairman of philosophy and pedagogy（教学，教育学）at the University of Arkansas；Mrs.Julia McAlmont Noel，a member of the John McAlmont Chapter of the D.A.R.in Pine Bluff；Miss Julia Warner，a teacher in the Little Rock school system，and Mrs.P.H.Ellsworth，a former president of the Arkansas Federation of Womens Clubs.
In the early days of 1913the committee gathered in Mr.Hodgesoffice and worked on choosing a flag.As a winner they chose the red，white and blue design of Miss Willie Hocker of Wabbaseka，a member of the Pine Bluff chapter of the D.A.R.，where the search originated.
On a rectangular（矩形的，成直角的）field of red，Miss Hocker had placed a large white diamond bordered by twentyfive white stars on a blue band.Three blue stars in a straight line were centered in the diamond.
Miss Hocker explained that the colors in her design meant that Arkansas was one of the United States of America.The three blue stars had three meanings：Arkansas belonged to three countries （France，Spain，and the United States）before attaining statehood；1803was the year of the Louisiana Purchase when the land that is now Arkansas was acquired by the United States；and Arkansas was the third state created from the purchase by the United States，after Louisiana and Missouri.
The twentyfive stars mean that Arkansas was the twentyfifth state to be admitted to the Union.The diamond represents Arkansas as the nations first diamondproducing state.The two parallel（平行的）white stars at the left and right points of the diamond symbolize the dual（双的，二重的，双重）admission of Arkansas and Michigan to the Union.Both were admitted to the Union about the same time—Arkansas on June 15，1836and Michigan on January 26，1837.
On February 26，1913，the legislature made Miss Hockers design the states official flag.The U.S.S.Arkansas received her flag from the Pine Bluff Chapter of the D.A.R.
Then there was trouble...there was no indication on the flag that Arkansas had been a member of the Confederate States of America from 1861to 1865.To correct that，the legislature in 1923added a fourth blue star above the letter “R”in Arkansas and moved the single blue star to a position above the last “A”.But，a furor（激怒，狂热）arose and many claimed that the original symmetry（对称，匀称）and meaning of the design were destroyed.
So in 1924the legislature placed three blue stars below the word “Arkansas”and one above，the way the flag is today.
The three stars below “Arkansas”retained the meanings Miss Hocker had set and the lone star above the word is to commemorate Arkansasmembership in the Confederacy.
And so it remains today...a proud banner that flies for all Arkansans.
〖MZ（3H〗State Song州歌〖MZ）〗
Arkansas
October morning in the Ozark Mountains，
Hills ablazing（闪耀）like that sun in the sky.
I fell in love there and the fires still burning
A flame that never will die.
CHORUS
Oh，I may wander，but when I do
I will never be far from you.
Youre in my blood and I know youll always be.
Arkansas，you run deep in me.
Moonlight dancing on a delta（三角州，德耳塔）
levee（防洪堤，码头），
To a band of frogs and whippoorwill （［鸟］北美夜鹰）
I lost my heart there one July evening
And its still there，I can tell.
Repeat Chorus
Magnolia blooming，Mama smiling，
Mallards（野鸭，野鸭肉）sailing on a December wind.
God bless the memories I keep recalling
Like an old familiar friend.
Repeat Chorus
And theres a river rambling through the fields and valleys，
Smooth and steady as she makes her way south，
A lot like the people whose name she carries.
She goes strong and she goes proud.
Repeat Chorus
Oh，Arkansas
Its the spirit of the mountains and the spirit of the Delta
Its the spirit of the Capitol dome.
Its the spirit of the river and the spirit of the lakes，
Its the spirit thats in each and every home.
Its the spirit of the people and the spirit of the land，
Its the spirit of tomorrow and today.
CHORUS
Oh，Arkansas，Oh Arkansas，Arkansas U.S.A.
Its the spirit of friendship，its the spirit of hope
Its the Razorbacks （狭尖的背脊，剃刀鲸）
every game they play.
Oh Arkansas，Oh Arkansas，Arkansas U.S.A.
Its the spirit of the forest，
its the spirit of the eagle（鹰，鹰状标饰）.
Its the spirit of the country that we love.
Its the spirit of pride that we all feel deep inside，
Its the spirit that shines from above.
Its the spirit of our fathers，its the spirit of our kids，
Its the spirit of the music that we play.
Oh Arkansas，Oh Arkansas，Oh Arkansas U.S.A.
Oh Arkansas，Oh Arkansas，Oh Arkansas U.S.A.
Oh Arkansas，Oh Arkansas，Oh Arkansas U.S.A.
〖MZ（3H〗Facts and Trivia相关资料〖MZ）〗
1.Elevations in the state range from 54feet above sea level in the far southeast corner to 2，753feet above at Mount Magazine，the states highest point.
2.North Little Rock offers one of the nations largest municipal（市政的，地方性的）parks.
3.The community of Mountain View is called the Folk Capital of America.The little town preserves the pioneer way of life and puts it on display for visitors at the Ozark Folk Center State Park from March through October.
4.The road to the White House for President Bill Clinton began in Hope，then led to Hot Springs，Fayetteville，and Little Rock.
5.Arkansas contains over 600，000acres of lakes and 9，700miles of streams and rivers.
6.The state contains six national park sites，twoanda half million acres of national forests，seven national scenic byways（小道），three state scenic byways，and 50state parks.
