Flag of Louisiana facts for kids
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| Names | Louisiana flag, Pelican flag |
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| Use | Civil and state flag     |
| Proportion | 7∶11 |
| Adopted | July 1, 1912 (modifications in 2006 and 2010) |
| Design | On a blue field, a white pelican tearing its breast to feed its young, displaying three drops of blood, with a white ribbon below bearing the state motto "Union Justice Confidence" in blue lettering. |
The flag of Louisiana is a special symbol for the U.S. state of Louisiana. It has a blue background with a white pelican in the middle. This pelican is shown caring for its young, a symbol of sacrifice. Below the pelican, there's a white ribbon with the state's motto: "Union Justice Confidence" written in blue. Louisiana officially adopted this flag on July 1, 1912. Many people call it the Pelican flag.
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What the Louisiana Flag Represents
Official Description of the Flag
The law in Louisiana describes the state flag very clearly. It says the flag must have a solid blue background. In the center, there is a white pelican, which is part of the state's official symbol. This pelican is shown in a special way, appearing to feed its young. Below the pelican, a white ribbon displays the state motto: "Union, Justice and Confidence" in blue letters. The law also states that the design must include three drops of blood on the pelican's chest, showing its sacrifice.
The History of Louisiana's Flag
Early Symbols and the Pelican
The brown pelican has been an important symbol for Louisiana for a long time. As far back as 1812, you could see the pelican on the state's official seal. It also appeared on flags used by local military groups and even on uniform buttons. These early flags often had a blue background and included the motto "Union, Justice and Confidence".
Louisiana's First Official Flag (1861-1865)
On February 11, 1861, Louisiana adopted a different flag. This flag had a light yellow star on a red square in the corner. The rest of the flag had thirteen stripes in blue, white, and red. This flag was used during the American Civil War. Its design honored the 13 original U.S. states. It also used the colors red, white, and blue from the French flag, and yellow and red from the Spanish flag, reflecting Louisiana's rich history.
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The Official Pelican Flag of 1912
After the Civil War, around 1878, the flag with the white pelican on a blue background became popular again. Even though many people used it, it wasn't officially recognized by the state government yet.
In 1912, a representative named William F. Roy suggested making this popular pelican flag the official state flag. The Louisiana Historical Society supported this idea. The flag was described as having a solid blue background with the state's symbol: a white pelican feeding its young. Below it, a white ribbon held the motto: "Union, justice and confidence" in blue letters.
The idea was approved by the Louisiana House of Representatives and the State Senate in June 1912. However, the law didn't give many details about how the pelican should look. This meant that over the years, different flags had slightly different pelicans, and even the shade of blue could change.
Updating the Flag in the 21st Century
For a long time, it was a tradition for the pelican on the state flag and seal to have three drops of blood on its chest. This symbolized the pelican's sacrifice. However, over the years, this detail was sometimes forgotten or left out.
An eighth-grade student at Vandebilt Catholic High School in Houma noticed this. He brought it to the attention of his state lawmaker. Because of his observation, a new law was passed on May 25, 2006. This law required the flag to include "an appropriate display of three drops of blood" on the pelican's chest.
Later, on November 22, 2010, the flag received a formal redesign to make sure all flags looked the same. An artist named Curtis Vann Jr. was hired to create a standard pelican design. He made the pelican look more realistic, like a brown pelican, but kept it white as required by law. He also added the brown pelican's yellow-brown crown. The new design also specified a bright blue background and removed the word "and" from the motto on the ribbon.
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Symbolism of the Pelican
In old stories from the Middle Ages, people believed that pelicans were very devoted parents. They thought pelicans would even draw their own blood to feed their babies if there was no other food. This image of the "pelican in her piety" became a symbol of great care and sacrifice. It also came to represent important religious ideas like the sacrifice of Jesus.
William C. C. Claiborne, who was the first governor of the Orleans Territory, chose the pelican for the territory's first official seal. The pelican was a common symbol for Louisiana long before it became part of the state flag in 1912.
Louisiana's Pledge of Allegiance
The Louisiana Pledge of Allegiance was adopted in 1981. It states:
"I pledge allegiance to the flag of the state of Louisiana and to the motto for which it stands: A state, under God, united in purpose and ideals, confident that justice shall prevail for all of those abiding here."
See also
In Spanish: Bandera de Luisiana para niños
- List of flags by design
- List of Louisiana state symbols
- List of U.S. state, district, and territorial insignia
