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The Louisiana Acadian Flag

Since 1965, the official Louisiana Acadian Flag has been flown proudly through Acadiana.  Descendants of the French-Acadian, or Cajun people largely populate the 22 parish area of South Louisiana.  It is flown, in the memory, of their forefathers being banished from Nova Scotia for religious and political reasons in the mid Eighteenth Century.

The Louisiana Acadian Flag was designed by Dr. Thomas J. Arceneaux of Lafayette, La., life long supporter of English-French bilingual education in Louisiana schools.  He is the former Dean of the College of Agriculture (1941-1975) at the University of Southwestern Louisiana in Lafayette, now The University of Louisiana at Lafayette.  Dr. Arceneaux, was one of the early leaders of the Louisiana French renaissance movement that revived interest and pride in the French-Acadian heritage.  In 1955, in celebrating the Bicentennial of the Acadian exile, it became the driving force for the revival.  He is a Charter member of the Council for the Development of French in Louisiana (better known as CODOFIL).

Description of the Acadian Flag

The Three Silver colored Fleurs de Lis, on a Blue Field, represents the French origin of the Acadians with a portion of the arms dedicated to their Mother Country.

In paying homage to Spain, the nation that controlled Louisiana during the Acadian migration to Louisiana, it is represented by the Old Arms of Castille - a Gold Tower on a Red Field...The Acadian's adopted nation under whom they prospered after years of exile.

The gold star is the official symbol of the Virgin Mary, under the title of "Our Lady of the Assumption".  This symbol has special religious significance for the Acadians, since they left France for the New World during a time of great devotion to Mary.  It was at this time that the King of France, Louis XIII, declared Mary the "Patroness of the Kingdom."  On August 15, 1638, France and her colonies were consecrated to Mary under the title "Our Lady of the Assumption."

Then in 1938, Pope Pius XI solemnly proclaimed "Our Lady of the Assumption" as the Patroness of all Acadians - those in Canada as well as the ones residing in Louisiana and elsewhere.

Sons of the American Revolution

Shortly after the arrival of the displaced Acadians, in the Spanish territory of Louisiana, the American colonies started their struggle for Independence.  It is significant to recall the fact that Spain decided to champion the cause of the 13 American colonies in their revolution against the same English nation that had so cruelly exiled the Acadians.  With so many of the Acadian descendants living in Louisiana, they chose to serve under Galvez, the Governor of Spanish Louisiana.  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.

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