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Louisiana (U.S.)

by Mario Fabretto, 24 February 1998

State Pledge
Flags Over Louisiana
Flags of 1861
State Military Crest

See also:

In 1818, five stars were added, representing Indiana, Louisiana, Mississippi, Ohio and Tennessee, bringing the total number of stars on the U.S. flag to 20. There were thirteen stripes representing the thirteen original colonies.

State Pledge

"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."
Joe McMillan, 13 August 1999

Flags Over Louisiana

According to the book, "Flags of Louisiana" by Jeanne Frois published in 1995, here is a list of flags that flew over Louisiana:

Flag of Castile and Leon (1492-1541)
White Fleur de Lis (1672-1762)
Spanish flag (1763-1803)
British flag (1763-1779)
French tricolor (Nov 30, 1803 - Dec 20, 1803)
U.S. Flag (15 stars and 15 stripes) (1803-1861)
Flag of West Florida (Bonnie Blue) (Sep 1810 - Dec 1810)
National Flag of Louisiana (1861)
Confederate States of America (first national, with 7 stars)
The Current State Flag (1912 - )

Chris Pinette, 17 January 2000

Flags of 1861

by Chris Pinette, 15 July 1996

One of the many early flags of Louisiana. This was flown in January of 1861. It never had official status. It is described on page 147 of the book "Flag Book of the United States" by Whitney Smith. There is an image of this flag on page 136 of the book "Flags through the Ages and Across the World" by Whitney Smith.

by Chris Pinette, 15 July 1996

This flag of Louisiana was adopted on 11 February 1861 based in design on the U.S. flag, having a square canton and 13 stripes. The canton was red, with a single yellow star, which replicated the colours of the Spanish flag. The stripes alternated blue/white/red/white/blue/white/red/white/blue/white/red/white/blue; replicating the colours of the French flag.

It is referred to as the flag of the Republic of Louisiana in some cases, but this is not accurate. By February 11, 1861 the Confederate States of America had been organized and Louisiana was a member, so this was the flag of Louisiana as a Confederate State.

The flag flown by Louisiana prior to the adoption of this flag, was the Pelican Flag, which was never officially adopted, but commonly used prior to and during the war. A Pelican Flag was flown at the time Louisiana seceded, so it might be more proper to consider it the flag of the indepedent republic between secession and creation of the Confederacy. The Pelican Flag was not officially adopted by Louisiana until July 1, 1912.
Devereaux Cannon, 2 October 1998

State Military Crest

by Joe McMillan, 21 April 2000

The state military crest, which is the crest used in the coats of arms of units of the National Guard, as granted by the precursor organizations of what is now the Army Institute of Heraldry. The official Institute of Heraldry blazon is "A pelican in her piety affronte with three young in nest, argent, armed and vulned proper."
Joe McMillan, 21 April 2000