South Carolina State Pledge to State Flag

State symbols represent things that are special to a particular state.

symbol  \ˈsim-bəl\
noun

Etymology:
in sense 1, from Late Latin symbolum, from Late Greek symbolon, from Greek, token, sign; in other senses from Latin symbolum token, sign, symbol, from Greek symbolon, literally, token of identity verified by comparing its other half, from symballein to throw together, compare, from syn- + ballein to throw — more at devil
Date: 15th century

1:  Something that represents something else by association, resemblance, or convention, especially a material object used to represent something invisible.