A New Hampshire man says the famous stony visage should be put on

the state flag.

CONCORD, N.H. (AP) – Even before the Old Man of the Mountain collapsed about two weeks ago, a Manchester man wanted to put the craggy face on the state flag.

Now, he says, his idea is getting more attention.

Hubie McDonough, 71, paraded in front of the busy Legislative Office Building on Tuesday, displaying a replica of the flag he would like to see adopted. It featured the profile of the Old Man; the state motto, “Live Free or Die,” and nine stars encircling the motto to symbolize New Hampshire’s deciding ninth vote to ratify the U.S. Constitution.

“The present flag is indistinguishable from 25 other state flags that have a blue background with ‘something’ in the middle,” said McDonough, who has been working three or four years to change the flag.

The current flag shows the state seal in the middle on a blue background. The seal has the words “Seal of the state of New Hampshire, 1776,” printed around a picture of a colonial war ship with a rising sun and the American flag.

It was meant to depict Portsmouth as a major shipbuilding center during the Revolutionary War years.

“I propose that the new flag contain our two most well-known images: the state motto and the Old Man of the Mountain,” said McDonough, who is the father of Hubie McDonough, the Manchester Monarchs hockey team’s director of operations.

“The ‘Old Man’ is on our license plates, state police cars, state emblem, drivers licenses, travel brochures, etc.,” he said. “It is the symbol of our Granite State and should be seen everywhere the flag flies.

“The motto ‘Live Free or Die’ is in our hearts and is the basis of our way of life. It should be on our flag so that it will be displayed above us on our poles, in our parades, in our classrooms, town meeting halls, legislative sessions and so on. This way people of all ages will see and contemplate a piece of our history.”

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