Two of the largest electric utilities in Mississippi are among the latest companies to adopt a bicentennial banner. Entergy Mississippi and Mississippi Power Co. announced Monday that they would fly the banner, which was unveiled in October by the Mississippi Economic Council to mark the state’s 200th anniversary in 2017. The banner features the state seal at the center of three horizontal blue, white, and red bars. On the left side of this flag, you will see “Established 1817” while on the right, the text reads “2017 Bicentennial”. Mississippi is the last state to fly the Confederate battle banner in official capacity. The banner is being flown by Mississippi Power, which joins other large corporations in the state like Sanderson Farms, Huntington Ingalls shipbuilding, and BancorpSouth. Anthony Wilson, Mississippi Power CEO, stated that the banner was designed by the MEC, our state chambers of commerce. According to Mississippi Today, Entergy will also be flying the flag. Joey Lee, a communications manager, stated that Entergy Mississippi, an MEC partner decided to fly the Bicentennial Flag beginning Dec. 10, to commemorate our State’s 200th Birthday through 2017. For more than 15 years, Mississippians, politicians, and business leaders have debated the merits the current state flag. A ballot initiative sponsored in 2001 by the Mississippi Economic Council sparked division. Mississippians voted nearly two-to-1 to preserve the state flag at that time. Nationally, however, politics surrounding the Confederate flag have changed. Most notably, in 2015 when Dylann Roof shot nine people who were worshipping at a South Carolina black church, the political landscape has changed. The Confederate flag was used by the shooter for photographs. After Philip Gunn (R-Clinton), said that Mississippi should change its flag, it was widely believed that the issue of how to handle the flag in Mississippi was a major concern going into the 2016 legislative session. The session saw 19 bills dealing with the flag die in committee and did not make it to the floor for votes. Gunn commented on the support Gunn received for the bicentennial banner. He said that he was committed to changing the state’s flag. This issue will likely be brought up again during the 2017 regular session that begins January 3. House Speaker Philip Gunn stated that this clearly indicates that Mississippians and other entities are eager to look into alternatives to the current state flag. “The same feelings I feel today are reflected in the statement I made earlier.” “I want to find a solution for all Mississippians.” Mississippi Today is compiling the list of entities that will fly the bicentennial banner. As organizations announce their plans to fly the banner, we will update this post. * Mississippi Power * Huntington Ingalls* Barksdale Management* * Sanderson Farms* BancorpSouth * University of Mississippi * City of Tupelo. (*Editor’s note: Jim Barksdale is president of Barksdale Management. Contributing: Kendra Abslaza