RELATIONSHIP TO ILLINOIS:
I have lived in Illinois for my entire life (40 years). I grew up in Naperville and then moved to Chicago where I lived for about 18 years before moving to Des Plaines.

EXPLAIN THE MEANING BEHIND YOUR FLAG:
My flag uses a silhouette design of the state of Illinois as the focal point. I always felt Illinois had a distinct outline. 21 stars circle the state to symbolize it being the 21st state to enter the Union. Additionally, I used the circular design to symbolize Illinois being a kind of center of the country, whether it is geographically or from Chicago serving as a hub for train and air traffic. Finally, the blue edges represent the Mississippi River and Lake Michigan which flank the state.