Are you from Texas? Those from this southern state have a lot of pride in their state. One of the ways they show this pride is with the staying 'Don't Mess with Texas'. This flag patch features that saying along with the flag of Texas. The Don't Mess with Texas Patch is actually not an old saying, it's a phrase the Texas Department of Transportation came up with in 1986 to use in an advertising campaign!
While many people use the phrase at sporting events to show how amazing their team is or like to quite it when Texas has done something amazing, it was actually created to help reduce litter on Texas highways. The idea was that littering was messing with and messing up the state, and the transportation department saw this as a major problem. It worked, too: between 1986 and 1990, the amount of litter on Texas highways decreased by more than 70 percent.
In addition to finding this phrase on a patch, you can also find it on many other souvenirs. The state has actually registered a federal trademark on the phrase, although it's used without permission all the time. The phrase is also the official motto of the submarine USS Texas.
The flag of Texas also appears on this patch. It's called the Lone Star Flag because of its single white star. The flag was created by Dr. Charles B. Stewart and was used as the national flag of the Republic of Texas before Texas became a state.
The patch measures 4 by 1.5 inches. It can be sewn or ironed on. It's also available in the wholesale patches category, so retailers can stock up.
