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BATON ROUGE, La. - Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser and the State Library of Louisiana celebrated the formal dedication of new braille flag displays at the State Library building in downtown Baton Rouge. The ceremony recognized both the sacrifices of our nation's blinded veterans and the critical importance of accessibility in public spaces.
Donated to the State Library by the Louisiana/Mississippi Regional Group of the Blinded Veterans Association (BVA), the newly installed bronze and acrylic displays feature the American flag rendered in raised braille dots, allowing visually impaired visitors to experience the flag through touch. The plaques also include a braille version of the Pledge of Allegiance. The donation represents the BVA's ongoing commitment to supporting accessibility initiatives in communities across the nation.
"Our nation’s flag has long served as a unifying symbol, but for too long, those who are blind or visually impaired could only experience it through description,” said Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser. “The placement of these tactile flags allows all visitors to personally connect with our nation's most cherished emblem through touch and the universal language of braille. We are grateful to the BVA for this meaningful gift that will serve our library patrons for generations to come."
The State Library of Louisiana was selected to receive the displays as home of the Talking Books and Braille Library (TBBL), Louisiana’s only library dedicated to providing library services for the visually impaired. An affiliate of the Library of Congress's National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled, the TBBL provides access to more than 164,000 audio and braille books, 25,000 large-print books, and playback machines to anyone with permanent or temporary disabilities.
Braille flags play a vital role in ensuring patriotic symbols and civic engagement remain accessible to all Americans, regardless of visual ability. For the estimated 7.3 million Americans with visual disabilities, tactile representations of the flag provide an opportunity to connect with this fundamental symbol of our nation through touch, fostering the same sense of pride and belonging sighted individuals experience when viewing the flag.
“Braille flags serve as both a symbol and teaching tool, helping sighted individuals better understand the braille system while providing blind and visually impaired community members with direct access to this important patriotic symbol,” said State Librarian Meg Placke. “The displays are a wonderful addition to our facility and will certainly be a point of interest for our visitors.”
The dedication was attended by local veterans, library leadership and staff, and representatives of the BVA. The displays are installed in the State Library’s first floor lobby and Reference areas and are available for public interaction during all operating hours.
The Blinded Veterans Association is the only national Veterans Service Organization chartered by the United States Congress and exclusively dedicated to assisting America’s blinded veterans and their families. Founded in 1945, the BVA provides support services, advocates for benefits, and promotes awareness of issues affecting the visually impaired veteran community.
The State Library of Louisiana inspires and supports literacy and lifelong learning for all Louisianans through access to information, strengthening communities, supporting exceptional library services, and preserving Louisiana’s heritage.
Contact Information:
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Kevin Calbert |
Barry Landry |