Flag of Albuquerque

The sun symbolizes the history of the Zia people who settled in the area, and the 4 rays symbolize the importance of the number four in the spiritual beliefs of the Zia society, with the four cardinal directions, the four seasons, the four times of day (sunrise, noon, sunset, night), and the four periods of life (childhood, youth, adulthood, old age). The Zia also believe that a person has four duties: to develop a strong body, a clear mind, a pure spirit, and a devotion to the welfare of people. The Zia symbol also has an obvious connection to the Flag of New Mexico, with both flags using it as a prominent element (in the case of New Mexico, the only element). The mythological thunderbird in the top left is perhaps a representation of the city's progress through the years.[3] The "1706" honors the Spanish founders of the city.[4]

The history behind the flag is somewhat uncertain. Supposedly, the Zonta Club of Albuquerque solicited the design, which was said to be made by optometrist Dr. Richard T. Vann. Prior to the selection of the design, on January 13, 1969, the Albuquerque Council of Camp Fire Girls presented a 5:8-proportion flag it had made to Clyde Scharrer, the city's aviation director. More than a month later, the flag was presented to the city commission. On January 26, 1970, the Zonta Club presented four more flags to the city commission.[3] The flag placed 25th out of 150 American city flag designs in a 2004 North American Vexillological Association survey.[5]

The flag is not used that much. It sits behind city councilors during meetings, and it flies outside the Albuquerque Convention Center[2] and the Anderson-Abruzzo Albuquerque International Balloon Museum.[6]

The flag's design has been criticized and even called offensive for its resemblance to flags of controversial governments, such as the Flag of the Soviet Union, the Flag of China, and a loose resemblance to the Flag of Nazi Germany.[7]