In 1884 Lamborn suggested that Ohio should make the carnation a state emblem . In 1904 , three years after President McKinley 's assassination , the Ohio General Assembly designated the scarlet carnation as the official state flower as a " token of love and reverence to the memory of William McKinley " . On 29 January of each year ( President McKinley 's birth anniversary ) , a bouquet of red carnations is placed in the hands of McKinley 's statue at the Capitol in Columbus
assassination
Assassination of William McKinley
Alliance, Ohio