Flag of New Orleans
The municipal flag of New Orleans is the representative banner of the city of New Orleans, Louisiana. The flag has a large white field that contains three gold fleurs-de-lis and is bordered on the top by a red stripe and from below by a blue stripe. The presence of the fleur-de-lis, a stylized depiction of a flower and a traditional French symbol, demonstrates the city's French heritage and strong ties to France.
History
The city of New Orleans adopted its official flag in January 1918, having selected its design from nearly 400 ideas submitted to its Citizen's Flag Committee in preparation for the city's bicentennial celebration. The red, white, and blue flag emblazoned with gold fleurs-de-lis combined one proposal's suggested color scheme with decorative elements from another. The patriotic color scheme was suggested by Bernard Barry, then employed as an engraver at A. B. Griswold and Co., jewelers, and the fleurs-de-lis idea is attributed to Gustave Couret, a draftsman with the Diboll, Owen, and Goldstein architectural firm.[1] The official flag of the city of New Orleans was named by the city council in January 1918.[2]
Meaning
The white field is the symbol of government, the blue stripe represents liberty, and the red stripe represents fraternity. The white field is five times the width of the stripes. The three fleurs-de-lis grouped in triangular form represent New Orleans under the principles of government, liberty, and fraternity. The red, white, and blue colors of the flag appear in the flag of the United States, as well as in the flag of France.[2]
References
- ↑ Eichhorn, M. L. (Spring 2016). "Couret Family Papers". The Historic New Orleans Collection Quarterly.
- 1 2 Flags of the World: New Orleans, LA, USA, Flags of the World, 6 June 2009
