A new state flag, featuring a more angular pelican tearing its bleeding breast to feed its young, was unveiled Monday during the swearing-in ceremonies of two state officials.

The pelican that is still on the present-day flag dates to 1812. The bird was featured on the Louisiana state seal and on unofficial flags as a symbol for the state.

Louisiana's state flag features a crest that's centered upon a blue backdrop which features a nest with a mother pelican and her three chicks. Beneath the crest is the state's motto , "Union ...

Though the white pelican on a blue background has symbolized Louisiana on its state flag since 1912, official uniform parameters were not put in place for the Louisiana state flag in 2010.

BATON ROUGE, La. — Louisiana officials have unveiled a redesign of Louisiana's state flag. It keeps the pelican feeding chicks in a nest, adding three drops of blood on the mother's breast.

It’s strange that although the Brown Pelican is our state bird, the American White Pelican is the bird that graces our state flag. And the story behind it is as interesting as the bird itself.

For a brief period of time, between April & August 1812 the citizens of parishes currently east of the Mississippi River – including St. Tammany and Baton Rouge – were free and inde… ...

After comments about the pelican on the Louisiana state seal, we heard from Glen Duncan, the flag and seal designer, and Curtis Vann, the artist: ...

After comments about the pelican on the Louisiana state seal, we heard from Glen Duncan, the flag and seal designer, and Curtis Vann, the artist: ...