this post was submitted on 23 Nov 2023
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Vexillology

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[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 year ago

After I finished all of my U.S. state flag redesigns, I decided to take a stab at designing new flags for the territories! Here's the symbolism:

American Samoa

  • The triangular pattern is taken from the existing flag, just flipped to be more prominent when waving.
  • The red, white, and blue symbolize American Samoa's link to the United States.
  • The color arrangement—a field of red with a blue shape on the left and white symbols within the blue—is similar to that of the Samoan flag.
  • The war club and fly-whisk are symbols of Samoan leaders.

Guam

  • The blue field stands for the vast ocean surrounding Guam.
  • The red symbolizes the violent history of the island.
  • The two shapes are meant to resemble a slingstone and a sinahi necklace, both Chamorro symbols.
  • Yellow is used to represent the hope of a prosperous future and so that the center of the flag resembles islands in the sea.

Northern Mariana Islands

  • The blue once again represents the ocean.
  • The white slopes on the sides of the flag evoke the Mariana Trench, which lies near the Mariana Islands.
  • The latte stone in the center of the flag is a Chamorro symbol.
  • There are 14 stars for the 14 islands in the territory. The red and pink resemble that of the original flag's wreath, a symbol of the Carolinians.

Puerto Rico

  • The white stripes are now yellow to better symbolize Puerto Rico's Spanish history.
  • The rest of the symbolism is the same.

U.S. Virgin Islands

  • 'Murican colors represent 'Murica.
  • The Nordic cross alludes to the islands' former status as a Danish colony.
  • There are 3 stars for the 3 main islands in the territory.