The flag of Arizona consists of 13 red and gold rays in the upper half, representing the thirteen colonies and the colors of the flag of Spain, in homage to the Spanish discoverers who came to these lands, such as Álvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca or Francisco Vázquez de Coronado.

The large copper star identifies Arizona as the largest producer of copper in the United States.While Harris is credited with the creation of the Rifle Team flag, several individuals appear to have played a role in the design of the state's first official flag, including Rachael Berry, Arizona's first elected female state representative.

Stewart, as president of the Mesa Rifle Team, felt compelled to design a flag for competition.

Reportedly, Stewart's wife Mae sewed the first flag for competition from a sketch he had made on the back of an envelope.

While some sources claim the rising sun of the earlier proposals was thought to resemble the Japanese flag and was therefore changed to the present star, other sources (including official state documents) cite the Spanish flag and the influence of early Arizona explorers, such as Álvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca and Francisco Vázquez de Coronado, as they searched unsuccessfully for the lost gold city of Cibola as the inspiration for the colors.