Flag of New Orleans

City of New Orleans

Use	Other
Proportion	2:3
Adopted	January 1918(1918-01)
Design	Three yellowfleurs-de-lison white field atop blue stripe and underneath red stripe, with the white field five times the width of the stripes.
Designed by	Bernard Barry and Gustave Couret

The municipalflag of New Orleansis the representative banner of the U.S. city ofNew Orleans,Louisiana.The flag has a large white field that contains three goldfleurs-de-lisand is bordered on the top by a red stripe and from below by a blue stripe. The presence of thefleur-de-lis,a stylized depiction of a flower and a traditional French symbol demonstrates the city's French heritage and strong ties toFrance,while the presence of the design being aSpanish fessdemonstrates the city's Spanish heritage and strong ties toSpain.

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 goldfleurs-de-liscombined 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 thefleurs-de-lisidea is attributed to Gustave Couret, a draftsman with the Diboll, Owen, and Goldstein architectural firm.The official flag of the City of New Orleans was named by the city council in January 1918.

Symbolism

The white field is the symbol of justice and the government, the blue stripe represents liberty, and the red stripe represents fraternity. In addition these are also the colors of theflag of France.The white field is five times the width of the stripes. The threefleurs-de-lisgrouped in triangular form represent New Orleans under the principles of government, liberty, and fraternity.