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The black and gold design is that of the Calvert family. It was given to Calvert as a result of storming a fortification in battle (the vertical bars approximate the bars of the palisade). The red and white design is that of the Crossland family, the family of Calvert's mother, and features a cross bottony. George Calvert adopted a coat of arms that included a shield with alternating quadrants featuring both the colors of his paternal family (in the 1st and 3rd quarters) and of his maternal family (in the 2nd and 4th quarters).
Initially, only the gold and black design was associated with Maryland. The red and white Crossland design gained popularity during the American Civil War, in which Maryland remained with the Union despite a lot of popular support for the Confederacy. Those Marylanders who supported secession (many of whom fought in the Army of Northern Virginia) were reluctant to use (and to fight under) the banner which was associated with a state which, grudgingly or not, remained with the Union and so they adopted the Crossland banner, which had the benefit of being red and white (which were seen as "secession colors").
After the war, Marylanders who had fought on both sides of the conflict returned to their state in need of reconciliation. The present design, which incorporated both symbols, began appearing. It was flown October 11, 1880, in Baltimore, Maryland at a parade marking the 150th anniversary of the founding of Baltimore. It also was flown October 25, 1888, at the Gettysburg Battlefield for ceremonies dedicating monuments to Maryland regiments of the Army of the PotomacThe Army of the Potomac was the major Union Army in the Eastern Theatre of the American Civil War. History This Army was created in 1861, but was only the size of a corps (relatively speaking). It began as the Army of Northeastern Virginia, then reverted. Officially, it was adopted as the State flag in 1904 (Chapter 48, Acts of 1904, effective March 9March 9 is the 68th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (69th in Leap years). There are 297 days remaining. Events 1841 The Supreme Court of the United States rules in the Amistad case that the Africans who seized control of the ship had been taken, 1904). In 1945Events January January 5 The Soviet Union recognizes the new pro-Soviet government of Poland. January 7 British General Bernard Montgomery holds a press conference in which he claims credit for victory in the Battle of the Bulge. January 12 World War II:, the legislature made a gold cross bottony the official ornament for a flagstaff carrying the Maryland flag.
Maryland Code, Section 13-202.
The Maryland Secretary of State publishes a "Protocol for the Maryland State Flag" which, among other things, specifies the colors of the flag:
1.04. The red and yellow colors in the Maryland flag should conform to the following Pantone Marking System colors: