BOSTON -- Gov. Mitt Romney, surrounded by former students of the Elm Street School in Gardner, Mass., Tuesday signed legislation making cranberry, blue and green the official colors of the Commonwealth.

The legislation was sponsored by Judith Marceau's former third-grade students who worked with their local legislator, Rep. Brian Knuuttila (D-Gardner), to file a bill designating the state's official colors.

The students helped draft the bill, testified before legislative committees and lobbied for their initiative before it finally became law with Romney's signature.

Romney praised the students, who are now seventh-graders, for their involvement and for not giving up the fight to pass the bill, which took four years.

"I think I speak for everyone when I say these kids have passed their civics class with flying colors," Romney said, after signing the bill using three pens in cranberry, blue and green ink.

The students chose the three colors based on geographic and historical elements of the Commonwealth, picking cranberry because the state is a large producer of cranberries, blue to represent the color of Revolutionary War uniforms and the waters of Massachusetts Bay and green to symbolize the Mohawk Trail and the forests of the Berkshire Hills.

"My students have learned that filing legislation is methodical and that even our youth can play an important role in our state history," said Marceau. "I am very pleased to have the opportunity to guide my students through this process and I'm delighted we have shared this educational experience."