Adopted in 1912, revised in 2006 and 2010. Various other unofficial pelican emblem flags date back to 1804. Official Colors: Blue, White, and Gold. Emblem: A pelican feeding its young against a field of blue. The Louisiana flag contains a crest centered on a blue field. The crest consists of a nest bearing three chicks, a mother pelican vulning herself with her head turned to the viewer's right and displaying three drops of blood on her breast. Beneath the nest a white banner bears the state motto "Union Justice Confidence." (ref; louisiana.gov) Louisiana was governed under numerous colonial era flags, including Spain, France, and Great Britain. Louisiana was annexed to the United States with the Louisiana Purchase of 1803 and admitted as a state in 1812 as the 18th state. It was readmitted in 1868 after the War Between the States, during which time it flew the Republic of West Florida (lone star Bonnie Blue flag), the Independent Louisiana flag and Confederate States flags.