The Jefferson Chamber Young Professionals recently debuted a new flag to represent Metairie in a project spearheaded by Jeffrey Simno, Jefferson Parish Council Aide, District 5. The design process, which took almost two years, resulted in a blue and red flag with a white diagonal stripe, and three fleurs-de-lis and three coeurs-de-lis in gold detail. The demand for the flag has been so high that Simno and the JCYP recently debuted a new garden version of the flag.
The garden flag features all of the same elements as the original version, but it is smaller and designed vertically.
“Not everybody has a flag pole mounted in their front yard or attached to their home, but most everyone can find a place for a garden flag,” Simno said. “It’s small, it’s cute, it’s affordable and it showcases pride in the place we call home.”
The original version of the flag retails for $50, and the garden version retails for $20. Both versions of the flag are available at jeffersonchamber.org/metairieflag or at the Jefferson Chamber office. One hundred percent of the proceeds goes directly back into the community.
“We’re working to create a flag-inspired bike rack that can be placed along the waterfront and throughout the community, and hopefully businesses will sponsor the bike rack outside their buildings,” Simno said. “We want people to have fun and to engage one another.”
Community engagement is entirely what the flag represents. Simno originally proposed the idea of the Metairie flag as a way to unite Metairie and Metairie Ridge (composed of Jefferson, Elmwood and River Ridge).
“We’re a sister city to New Orleans with our own thriving economy, our own central business district, a fantastic culture, a diverse population, quality services, safe neighborhoods, smooth streets, reliable drainage and the list goes on,” Simno said. “I’d like for residents throughout Metairie and the Metairie Ridge to unite under one banner.”
Simno also hopes that local businesses will create their own flag-inspired merchandise to further tout community pride.
“If someone has a business and would like to create a product, we welcome them,” he said. “The more flag-inspired products that people want to create, the better.”
