Louisiana’s state flag features a pelican feeding its young with its own flesh and blood, symbolizing altruism and compassion. The state has had various flags throughout its history, including during its time as a Spanish and French colony, and as part of the Confederate States of America during the Civil War.
The state flag of Louisiana was officially adopted in July 1912. It depicts an eastern brown pelican, the official state bird, feeding its three offspring by piercing its breast with its beak. This image is believed to come from an early belief that the pelican supported its offspring with its own blood during times of scarcity. The state flag of Louisiana shows the mother bird and her chicks in a nest against a blue background. A band below the birds generally bears the words “Union, Justice & Confidence,” the official state motto of Louisiana.
The pelican symbolism used on the Louisiana state flag also appears on the state’s great seal, the design of which was adopted in 1902. The image of the pelican feeding its young with its own flesh and blood is symbolic of altruism and compassion. The pelican is depicted on the Louisiana state flag with exactly three drops of blood oozing from its flesh.
Louisiana may be among the most unique US states because it has been owned by three countries during its history. The state was originally a Spanish colony, and then became a French colony before the United States acquired it as part of the Louisiana Purchase. As a result, Louisiana has flown numerous flags throughout its history. Louisiana gained its statehood in 1812, and while it didn’t fly an official state flag until 1861, scholars believe that the earliest unofficial flags may have followed the pelican theme used on the modern flag’s design. Historians believe an early version of the modern Louisiana state flag was used before and during the Civil War, as well as after the war.
The state was briefly independent for about two months in 1861, after it seceded from the United States of America, but before officially joining the Confederate States of America. Some consider the state flag flown in recent weeks to be the flag of a sovereign country. This flag depicted 13 red, white and blue stripes. In the upper left corner of this flag a yellow star was usually displayed on a red background. In addition to this flag, the state may have also flown a flag similar to the French one.
During Louisiana’s time with the Confederate States of America, the state flew that nation’s flags. The Confederate States changed the flag’s design at least three times during the Civil War. These alterations are believed to have occurred due to concerns about how the flags would appear on the battlefield. The original flag of the Confederacy depicted a ring of white stars on a blue background in the upper left corner, with two horizontal red bars separated by a white bar on the right. This design was eventually changed due to concerns that it could not be distinguished from the enemy’s flag on a battlefield. Later flag designs were largely white, and some people seemed to fear that these flags could easily be mistaken for signs of surrender.
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