The Louisiana flag originated from an 1800 design, but wasn't officially adopted by the Louisiana State Legislature until July 1, 1912. It displays the Louisiana state bird, the Eastern Brown Pelican, in white and gold, on a field of blue. The mother pelican is shown tearing flesh from her own breast to feed her three young. Louisiana's State motto, "UNION, JUSTICE & CONFIDENCE" is printed in blue letters on a white and gold banner below the pelicans.
