Acadian Louisiana Flag
Three silver fleurs de lis on a blue
field represent the French origin of the Acadians. The fleurs de lis is a symbol
of the kings of France.
When the Acadians arrived in Louisiana, it was
under Spanish rule. Since the Acadians prospered in Louisiana after years of
exile, a portion of the flag pays homage to Spain with a gold tower on a red
field representing the Old Arms of Castile, a prosperous European Spanish
kingdom.
The gold star on a white field represents "Our Lady of the
Assumption", Patroness of the Acadians. When the first settlers departed France
for the New World, the Virgin Mary was highly revered. It was a period of great
devotion to the Virgin. The King of France, Louis XIII, declared Mary the
Patronne de Royaume - "Patroness of the Kingdom" - and, on August 15, 1638,
France and her colonies were consecrated to Mary under the title "Our Lady of
the Assumption." In 1938, Pope Pius XI solemnly proclaimed "Our Lady of the
Assumption" as the patroness of all Acadians - those in Canada as well as those
in Louisiana and elsewhere.
The star also symbolizes the active
participation of the Acadians in the American Revolution as soldiers under
Spanish Governor Galvez. Shortly after the arrival of the displaced Acadians in
the Spanish territory of Louisiana, the American colonies started their struggle
for independence. Spain decided to champion the cause of the 13 American
colonies in their revolution against England. The Acadians chose to serve under
Galvez, the Governor of Spanish Louisiana, and they actively participated in the
battles of Manchac, Baton Rouge, Mobile and Pensacola, which were all very
important and decisive victories that contributed to the successful conclusion
of the American Revolution.
Since the Acadians were citizens of Spain at
the time of the American Revolution, their star could not appear on the first
American flag. Thus, the gold star on the Louisiana Acadian Flag serves as a
reminder of Louisiana's participation in the American Revolution and the
significant contributions of the Louisiana Acadians during the struggle for the
beginning of a new nation.
Made in Tawain. 3' x 5' Poly w Gromets $ 10.00
Thomas J Arceneaux designed the Louisiana Acadian Flag
to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the Acadian exile into Louisiana and to
remind us of other important influences on Acadians. Arceneaux, a native of
Carencro, Louisiana, is a life-long supporter of English-French bilingual education in
Louisiana Schools and was a charter member of the Council for the Development of
French in Louisiana (CODOFIL). He is the former Dean of Agriculture (1941-1973)
at the University of Southwestern Louisiana in Lafayette and was one of the
early leaders of the Louisiana French renaissance movement that revived interest
and pride in the French-Acadian heritage.