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St. Bernard Parish, Louisiana (U.S.)

image from www.st-bernard.la.us

Flag Description

See also:

State of Louisiana

Flag Description

The flag depicts the Chalmette Monument with a blue background, gold olive branches and white stars. It bears the blue and white of France's flag. A contest was held to make the flag of St. Bernard easier and cheaper to reproduce. It was designed by Joe Deffes of Chalmette, LA and unveiled at a ceremony on April, 29 2002

St. Bernard Parish is located on the a few miles from downtown New Orleans. It was settled by colonists from France, Spain, and the Canary Islands. The monument depicted is part of the Chalmette National Historical Park. It commemorates the Battle of New Orleans, the final battle of the War of 1812 between the American and British.

The description is difficult to interpret--the actual flag's blue color is closer to "reflex blue" than that of the blue of the French flag.

J. Hodges, 22 September 2002

Given the blue-white-yellow color scheme and the period in which French settlement of Louisiana took place, I imagine they were going for the blue and white of pre-1789 French flags rather than the darker blue of the modern tricolor.
Joe McMillan, 23 September 2002

Old Flag

image from www.st-bernard.la.us

St. Bernard Parish flag could get a fresh look
Update is needed, councilman says
30 November 2001
By Karen Turni Bazile
St. Bernard/Plaquemines bureau/The Times-Picayune

If St. Bernard Parish Councilman Mike Bayham gets his way, St. Bernard Parish's flag might get a makeover. Bayham, the newest council member, said he wants to sponsor a parishwide contest to redesign the flag, which hangs in the council chambers. He said it needs a simpler design that can be mass-produced. The current flag includes a gold outline of the parish with a drawing of a building resembling the local courthouse superimposed. With the drawing is the saying, "St. Bernard Parish: Industrial Frontier of the Great Gulf South, Chalmette, Louisiana." On the right side of the parish outline is the symbol found on the state flag, a mother pelican and her chicks, and on the left side is a rendering of the Chalmette monument.

"I think (redesigning the flag) would be an attractive way to create more parish pride and to promote the parish," Bayham said. "We rank 21st of the 64 parishes in tourism. We have one of the foremost national historical battlefields in this parish. There are other aspects of this parish we could promote. We have strong Spanish influence and an easily accessible swamp area."

Bayham introduced the measure at this week's Executive Finance Committee meeting, and some members scoffed at the idea, even laughing out loud. Nevertheless, Bayham said he intends to present his plans for a flag-design contest to the council in late December or early January, hold the contest from January to March, and unveil the new flag at the Art in April event. Bayham said a nine-member panel of parishwide appointed officials, such as the parish historian and tourism director, would select five or 10 finalists in the flag contest. Residents then would vote on the winner. The problem with the existing flag, Bayham said, is that it looks like an expensive tapestry. The design is heavy and too complicated to silk screen. Reproducing the flag costs nearly $700, parish officials said. Currently, there are only three parish flags in existence: two old ones in the government complex vault and one on display in the council chambers. Other municipalities, including New Orleans, Kenner and Plaquemines Parish, have their flags prominently displayed, reflecting their communities and culture. "Redesigning the flag is just another part of my move to get more public participation in government," Bayham said.

Olivier Touzeau, 9 December 2001

St. Bernard parish in Louisiana recently conducted a flag contest to replace its flag (which can be seen at this page.) The six finalist proposals from which the winning entry will be selected can be seen at this page.
Phil Nelson, 9 April 2002