Flag of Louisiana

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The flag of Louisiana consists of a heraldic charge called a "pelican in her piety," representing a mother pelican wounding her breast to feed her young from the blood. This symbol, emblematic of Christian charity (and also the Official State Bird, the Brown pelican), is also found on the Louisiana state seal. On the flag it is depicted above a ribbon with the state motto: "Union, Justice, and Confidence." The current flag was adopted in 1912.

During the 19th century it was traditional in Louisiana flags for the "pelican in her piety" to have three drops of blood on her chest<ref name="picayune">Eagle-eyed eighth-grader prompts La. flag legislation, an April 2006 article from The Times-Picayune</ref> . An eighth-grader at Vandebilt Catholic High School in Houma realized that the tradition had been haphazardly followed in more recent years, and brought this to the attention of his state legislator<ref name="picayune" />. In April 2006, the Louisiana State Legislature passed a bill (House Bill 833/Act 92<ref>HB833 - 2006 Regular Session, from the website of the Louisiana State Legislature</ref>) which requires three drops of blood to be depicted on the pelican used in the state's flag and seal.

[edit] Historical flags

Prior to 1861, the State of Louisiana had no official flag, though a flag similar to the modern one was often used.

In January 1861, after seceding from the United States, Louisiana unofficially used a flag based on the flag of France.

In February 1861, Louisiana officially adopted a flag with a single yellow star in a red canton, with thirteen red, white and blue stripes. This was used throughout the U.S. Civil War, though the Pelican flag and Flag of January 1861 remained in use unofficially.