us possessions

Wake Island Flag on Our Flagpole

Wake Island

The most significant image on the flag is that of a large yellow circle set in the center of the blue section. This circle, reminiscent of a coin or medallion, is emblazoned with a rough map of the island done in blue. Wake Island is written on the top and bottom of this disk in capital letters as well, also in blue. The flag also incorporates another element from the American flag, the presence of stars. The yellow circle is surrounded by three stars. These stars are also yellow in color and each one has five points. The stars are set on the top, bottom, and right side of the circle.

Wake Island Read More »

Midway Atoll

The top is sky blue, the thin stripe is white for the beach and the turquoise bottom stripe is for the color of the surrounding ocean. The bird, a Laysan Albatross, is white and black. It was designed for the Memorial Day 2000 event being held at the USS Arizona. The flag was designed by the Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge staff with assistance of a National Park Service employee. This flag has no official status, other than that it will be used to represent Midway Island in a Memorial Day ceremony. The flag has the same status as a small US city’s flag – it is accepted as the flag by the inhabitants even though the federal government hasn’t given the flag official status.

Midway Atoll Read More »

Puerto Rico Flag on Our Flagpole

Puerto Rico – The Island of Enchantment

Juan de Mata Terreforte, an exiled veteran of “El Grito de Lares” and Vice-President of the Cuban Revolutionary Committee, in New York City, adopted the flag of Lares as the flag of Puerto Rico until 1895, when the current design, modeled after the Cuban flag, was unveiled and adopted by the 59 Puerto Rican exiles of the Cuban Revolutionary committee. The new flag, which consisted of five equal horizontal bands of red (top and bottom) alternating with white; a blue isosceles triangle based on the hoist side bears a large, white, five-pointed star in the center, was first flown in Puerto Rico on March 24, 1897, during the “Intentona de Yauco” revolt. The use and display of the Puerto Rican flag was outlawed and the only flags permitted to be flown in Puerto Rico were the Spanish flag (1492 to 1898) and the flag of the United States (1898 to 1952).

Puerto Rico – The Island of Enchantment Read More »

Johnston Atoll Flag on our Flagpole

Johnston Atoll

While the official flag of Johnston Atoll is the flag of the United States an unofficial flag of Johnston Atoll was created used to represent the island in a December 7, 2001 Pearl Harbor ceremony. The flag was flown below the Stars and Stripes. The double bird holding 4 stars represents both the Air Force and the Fish and Wildlife Service, while the four stars denote the atoll’s islands; the white is for coral and the aquamarine for the surrounding ocean.

Johnston Atoll Read More »

Washington DC Flag on Our Flagpole

Washington DC – A Capital City

The flag of Washington, D.C., consists of three red stars above two red bars on a white background. It is an armorial banner based on the design of the coat of arms of George Washington, first used to identify the family in the 12th century, when one of George Washington’s ancestors took possession of Washington Old Hall, County Durham, northeast England. As elements in heraldry, the stars are properly called mullets.

Washington DC – A Capital City Read More »

Scroll to Top