Acadians are the descendants of a group of French-speaking settlers who migrated from coastal France in the late sixteenth century to establish a French colony called Acadia in the maritime provinces of Canada and part of what is now the state of Maine. Forced out by the British in the mid-sixteenth century, a few settlers remained in Maine, but most resettled in southern Louisiana and are popularly known as Cajuns.
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.
The Acadian flag was established at the second Acadian Convention in 1884 at Miscouche, Prince Edward Island. Father Marcel-Francois Richard designed it and brought it with him to the event. Like the flag of France, it is blue, white, and red. The gold star at the top left is the Stella Maris (Star of the Sea), there to seek the guidance and protection of the Virgin Mary, patron saint of the Acadians. This flag represents Acadians worldwide.
Dr. Thomas Arceneaux, Dean of Agriculture at the University of Southwestern Louisiana in Lafayette (1941-1973), outlined a comparable banner in 1965 to respect the 200th commemoration of the entry of Acadians in Louisiana. Like the Acadian banner, it is blue, white and red and has the gold star to speak to the Virgin Mary, benefactor holy person of the Acadians.
The star also symbolizes the active participation of the Acadians in the American Revolution. The gold castle on the red field represents and honours Spain, the country that controlled Louisiana at the time of the Acadian migration there. The silver fleur-de-lis on the blue field represents their French heritage.
After 1974, this banner has formally recognized the Acadians who relocated to Louisiana. For the special events, the Flag Company Inc invented beautiful decals for the history support.
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.
The Acadian flag was established at the second Acadian Convention in 1884 at Miscouche, Prince Edward Island. Father Marcel-Francois Richard designed it and brought it with him to the event. Like the flag of France, it is blue, white, and red. The gold star at the top left is the Stella Maris (Star of the Sea), there to seek the guidance and protection of the Virgin Mary, patron saint of the Acadians. This flag represents Acadians worldwide.
Dr. Thomas Arceneaux, Dean of Agriculture at the University of Southwestern Louisiana in Lafayette (1941-1973), outlined a comparable banner in 1965 to respect the 200th commemoration of the entry of Acadians in Louisiana. Like the Acadian banner, it is blue, white and red and has the gold star to speak to the Virgin Mary, benefactor holy person of the Acadians.
The star also symbolizes the active participation of the Acadians in the American Revolution. The gold castle on the red field represents and honours Spain, the country that controlled Louisiana at the time of the Acadian migration there. The silver fleur-de-lis on the blue field represents their French heritage.
After 1974, this banner has formally recognized the Acadians who relocated to Louisiana. For the special events, the Flag Company Inc invented beautiful decals for the history support.
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