After Rear Admiral Summer E.W. Kitelle was sworn in as governor, he approached his chief of staff, William Russell White, about designing an official flag.
White tasked Percival W. Sparks, a yeoman and artist, with the design. Sparks took inspiration from the United States coat of arms and created a sketch. His wife Grace and her sister, Blanche Sasso, completed the flag’s embroidery.
The flag was officially adopted May 17, 1921.
The flag of the U.S. Virgin Islands features a field of white charged with an eagle, centered and flanked by the letters, V and I.
Upon the eagle’s chest is a shield of blue with red and white stripes. In its talons are a sprig of laurel and three arrows.
freedom, strength, the United States
peace
strength, the islands of Saint Croix, Saint Thomas, and Saint John
Virgin Islands
U.S. Virgin Islands statute only specifies that the blue of the shield be the same as the blue from the U.S. national flag.
The Flags and Anthems Manual for the London 2012 Olympic Games does provide Pantone colors for the U.S. Virgin Islands flag, as specified here.
U.S. Virgin Islands statute does not specify dimensions or proportion for the flag.
It is commonly produced with a proportion of 2:3.
