Flag of the US Virgin Islands

The US Virgin Islands is an unincorporated territory of the United States of America which is why it features some of the symbols in the American Great Seal. The flag of the US Virgin Islands is composed of a golden simplified version of the American Bald Eagle with an American shield facing left in a white background. In its left claw, the eagle is holding a sprig of laurel leaves and in its right are three blue arrows. The letters V and I are located in the left and right portion of the flag.

The flag of US Virgin Islands’ sprig of laurel symbolizes victory while the three arrows represent the three major islands of the territory namely St. Thomas, St. Croix, and St. John. The white draft of the flag is purity and the clouds while the golden color signifies wealth and other flora of the island. The color blue represents the sky above and the waters of the territory while the green is the hills that are abundant in the islands. Lastly the letters V and I stand for the initials of the Virgin Islands.

The flag of the US Virgin Islands has been adopted on May 17, 1921. It was during the leadership of Rear Admiral Summer Ely Whitmore Kitelle when he was governor that the flag was conceptualized. With the help of Mr. White and Percival Wilson Sparks, the flag was drawn, sewn and hoisted for the first time. The wife of Mr. Sparks, Grace, and his sister, Blanche Joseph embroidered the design.

History says that the islands were once the property of Denmark. It was named then as the Danish West Indies. The United States showed interest and later bought it with 25 million dollars. During the Denmark ownership, the territory used flags that incorporate the Danish flag.