What Is the Meaning of the Louisiana Flag?

The current Louisiana state flag portrays a mother pelican in a nest with three chicks. This image sits on a field of blue, and it's placed over a banner with the state motto, "Union, Justice, Confidence."

Pelicans

The pelican nest symbol on the state flag comes from the Louisiana state seal. It's an eastern brown pelican, the state bird of Louisiana.

Meaning

The mother pelican, with her head turned to the left, tears at her breast in the image on the flag. This represents the self-sacrifice of the mother ripping out her own flesh to feed her chicks. The symbolism dates to the Middle Ages.

Motto

In 1902, Louisiana Governor William Wright Heard outlined the design of the state seal and ordered that it include the state motto: "Union, Justice, Confidence."

History

The Louisiana Legislature adopted the Louisiana state flag with the pelican image on July 1, 1912. The current design of the flag dates to 1996.

Meaning of the motto

The Louisiana Pledge of Allegiance, adopted by the state in 1981, offers insight into the meaning of "Union, Justice, Confidence."

According to the Louisiana Revised Statutes, the pledge reads: "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."

References

• Flag of Louisiana
• Louisiana State Motto
• Louisiana State Flag

Resources

• World Flags 101
• Net State: The Louisiana State Flag