Virginia, known as "The Old Dominion," was the first established of the thirteen colonies and birthplace to four of the first five Presidents of the United States. She was America's leader in many regards during the Colonial era, the American Revolution and long after Independence was won. By the early Spring of 1861, though many southern states had departed, Virginia remained in the Union. But when the federal government demanded that Virginia raise a quota of soldiers to invade The South it was clear that there was no longer any hope for diplomacy or neutrality. A decision would have to be made. Virginians made their decision and responded to the crisis by voting overwhelmingly to exercise what they believed to be their constitutional right of secession. (In 1788 Virginia ratified the U.S. Constitution with the specific caveat that she was reserving the right to resume at any time all powers delegated to the federal government and thus withdraw from the Union. Others states including New York and Rhode Island did the same and the legal right of secession was clearly asserted by both northern and southern states, political leaders and legal scholars right up to the point of the War Between the States.) As a consequence of exercising her right, Virginia herself was immediately invaded and men from all over the state voluntarily organized into companies for her defense.

A state flag was soon adopted which showed the resolve of these volunteers.

The flag was the famous "Bonnie Blue Flag."  But with the star replaced by a white disc containing the obverse of the Virginia state seal which had been designed by patriot George Wythe back in 1776. The seal featured a victorious "Virtue" trampling "Tyranny" underfoot. Virtue stands erect with her sword sheathed, her spear at rest and her foot on a prostrate and defeated Tyranny whose chain is broken, whose scourge lies useless and whose crown has been cast off. The motto "Sic semper tyrannis" translates as "Thus always to tyrants." The message was clear. Virginians saw themselves as standing for the same principles in 1861 which had motivated their forefathers in 1776.

The white disk shown above was adopted after the War Between the States.  Prior to that, and during the war, this was the disk used: