Louisiana State Memorial and the "Legend" of Saint Barbara.
Even before I was a battlefield guide I often heard the Louisiana Memorial described as "Saint Barbara" the Patron saint of artilleryman. As I understood it, the flaming ball in the figures right hand was to represent a cannon ball.
However the sculptor that created this wonderful work of art never mentioned this idea. The sculptor, Donald DeLue titled this work "Peace and Memory." His description of this memorial's female figure was "Spirit Triumphant, symbolizing the survival of the spirit and ideas of these men... that they did not die in vain. The eternal flame held in the other hand of the female figure, symbolizes the memory of these gallant men. It is the embodiment of the spirit that went into the Battle of Gettysburg with them. The laurel tree which supports this symbolic figure is in two parts. One represents the North; one the South. It is now one tree trunk united by the dove of Peace which has now come to the Battlefield of Gettysburg and to the Nation."
From what I can find, DeLue never mentions "Saint Barbara" in any of his correspondence in regards to this memorial. The Louisiana Gettysburg Memorial Commission, who awarded DeLue the commission, indicated the monument was intended to express the ideals of sacrifice of the past and of hope and peace in the future. Again, no mention of Saint Barbara.

Saint Barbara as accounts indicate was the daughter of a pagan named Dioscorus. When Barbara, unknown by her father converted to Christianity he had her torture and killed. Her father, who had carried out the death sentence was then struck by lightning and his body consumed.
Today the United States Field Artillery Association and the United States Army Air Defense Association maintain the Order of Saint Barbara as an honorary society. A medallion struck by the Order depicts Saint Barbara on one side and a cannon with stacked cannonballs on the other. This medallion looks nothing like the Louisiana State Memorial.
Today the United States Field Artillery Association and the United States Army Air Defense Association maintain the Order of Saint Barbara as an honorary society. A medallion struck by the Order depicts Saint Barbara on one side and a cannon with stacked cannonballs on the other. This medallion looks nothing like the Louisiana State Memorial.