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Flag of Louisiana.

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 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 2006, revising the original pelican design of 1912.

During the 19th century it was traditional in Louisiana flags and the state seal for the "pelican in her piety" to have three drops of blood on her chest.^[1] However, in later years the tradition (on both the state flag and seal) had been haphazardly followed, which was noticed by an eighth-grader at Vandebilt Catholic High School in Houma who brought this to the attention of his state legislator.^[1] The issue was resolved in April 2006, when the Louisiana State Legislature passed a bill (House Bill 833/Act 92^[2]) which requires three drops of blood to be depicted on the pelican used in both the state's flag and seal.

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 to join the Confederate States of America, 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 through the end of the U.S. Civil War, though the Pelican flag and Flag of January 1861 remained in use unofficially.

Unofficial CSA flag of January 1861

CSA Flag of February 1861

Flag used from 1912–2006

1. ^ ^{a b} Eagle-eyed eighth-grader prompts La. flag legislation, an April 2006 article from The Times-Picayune
2. ^ HB833 - 2006 Regular Session, from the website of the Louisiana State Legislature

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