This was purchased through state representative Bob Nader's office and was flown over the capitol in Columbus. Ohio's state flag is the only non-rectangular flag in the US Union. The Ohio flag is similar to the swallow tail design of a cavalry flag. But unlike the swallow tail army design, the top and bottom edges of the flag are not perpendicular to the halyard. Rather the fly of the Ohio flag angles in. This type of flag shape used by the Ohio flag is called a burgee. The burgee shape was adopted in 1902 in order to please President McKinley, an Ohio son, who liked the army's swallow tail design. In order to distinguish the Ohio flag from an army flag, the ends of the Ohio flag were modified.