METAIRIE, LA – The Jefferson Chamber Young Professionals (JCYP), an arm of the Jefferson Chamber of Commerce, is proud to announce the first flag of Metairie! Developed through an extensive eighteen-month research, design, and selection process, the new Metairie Flag celebrates the unincorporated area’s people, culture, history, and ideals in concert with the Greater New Orleans region’s tricentennial anniversary.
Originally part of the City of New Orleans, Metairie, Louisiana has grown into a distinct community, independent and attractive to residents, businesses, and visitors. With a population of approximately 150,000 residents, Metairie is the largest community in Jefferson Parish, the fourth largest in Louisiana, and the fifth largest census-designated place in the United States. The JCYP Steering Committee and its Flag Committee believe the creation and promotion of a Metairie-specific flag will spark a unique sense of place and identity for the Metairie area and its associated Metairie Ridge communities of Jefferson, Elmwood, and River Ridge.
The flag’s distinctive colors and features display a diverse French-Spanish-American heritage and a sincere appreciation for the area’s rich Louisiana history and New Orleans ancestry. Both familiar and fresh, the most notable attributes of the flag are its three golden fleurs and coeurs de lis (flowers and hearts of the lily) balanced in a coupling of trinity arrangements, respectively representing tradition, wisdom, prosperity, opportunity, faith, and innovation. The red and blue foundation and aspirational thin, white stripe signify the principles of natural liberty and equal justice guiding a limited, transparent government.
“The couer de lis is both a historic and fresh perspective on our more familiar local icon. It’s the blossoming heart of the fleur de lis,” explained the JCYP Flag Committee. “There’s also a noticeable dialogue among the flag’s symbols, a conversation between our youth and maturity, our past and present, our history and future.”
“The Metairie Flag is quite literally a banner opportunity to promote excitement and interest in where we live,” said Matt Miller, 2018 JCYP Chairman. “With a cohesive symbol for Metairie, and more broadly the entire unincorporated region along Metairie Ridge, we hope to unite the area and make a lasting cultural impact.”
The flag’s silent motto is “Ardentibus Cordibus Floremus” or, more simply, “With ardent hearts, we flourish.” This maxim is an overture to the strength and potential of Metairie, its people in collaboration with the community from freshly blossomed couer de lis to fully mature fleur de lis, continually renewing and growing.
JCYP is distributing flags throughout the community in partnership with the Jefferson Chamber Foundation. All tax-deductible donations, payable to the Jefferson Chamber Foundation, for flags and flag-related merchandise will benefit the Metairie area and go exclusively to JCYP-led quality of life improvement projects.
“To have our next generation of leaders so focused on place-making and a shared community identity is fantastic!” said Jefferson Chamber of Commerce President Todd Murphy. “I commend their vision and drive, and the Chamber looks forward to seeing the Metairie Flag proudly displayed throughout the area.”
“Metairie holds a significant place in the history of Greater New Orleans. To know our young people have taken it upon themselves to recognize the spirit of this great piece of Jefferson Parish should bring us all tremendous civic pride,” said Councilwoman Jennifer Van Vrancken, whose district includes the majority of Metairie. “This flag is a true representation of our community, our values, our residents, where we’ve been and where we see ourselves going. Congratulations to the JCYP for turning this bright idea into a reality.”
On November 1st (All Saints Day), 2018, the Jefferson Chamber Young Professionals invite all in the area to join together for the first official raising of the Metairie Flag as a unified act of kinship between Metairie, its sister city of New Orleans, Jefferson Parish, and all neighboring communities in celebration of our region’s tricentennial anniversary.
For more information or to donate for a Metairie Flag, please visit jeffersonchamber.org/metairieflag.
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About the Jefferson Chamber:
The Jefferson Chamber is a leading voice for Jefferson Parish’s business community. As a non-profit, membership-driven organization, the Jefferson Chamber is an effective advocate for small and large businesses at the local, state and federal levels. The Chamber’s mission is to work for the advancement of the business community; to enhance the economic, civic and cultural environment; and to improve the quality of life in Jefferson Parish. The Jefferson Chamber is Five-Star Accredited by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and was awarded the 2013 and 2015 Chamber of the Year Award by the Louisiana Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives in the Large Chamber Category.
For more information about the Jefferson Chamber, visit www.jeffersonchamber.org and follow on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
About the Jefferson Chamber Young Professionals:
The Jefferson Chamber Young Professionals (JCYP) is a sub-committee of The Jefferson Chamber of Commerce and is comprised of young professional members of the Chamber. JCYP cultivates future civic and economic leaders of Jefferson Parish and the surrounding community through philanthropic initiatives, education, and leadership development opportunities. JCYP provides young professionals a diverse selection of business, networking, and social experiences to advance career skills and improve personal lives. JCYP events are open to any young professional in their 20’s or 30’s in the Greater New Orleans region.
For more information about the Jefferson Chamber Young Professionals and their events, follow them on Facebook and Instagram.
