Prior to Transfer Day 1917, the Danish colonial administration used a simple flag modeled on the blue ensign with the flag of Denmark in its canton.
The idea of a U.S. Virgin Islands flag began with the administration of Rear Admiral Summer Ely Whitmore Kitelle, who was sworn in as governor of the islands on April 26, 1921. He approached Mr. White, captain of the Grib, and Percival Wilson Sparks, and asked them for suggestions for a flag design. Sparks, a cartoonist, drew a design on paper. Afterwards Sparks transferred it on heavy cotton material, then asked his wife Grace and her sister Blanche Joseph to embroider the design.
The flag of the United States Virgin Islands was adopted on May 17, 1921.
Territorial Motto:
The motto of the U.S. Virgin Islands is: “United in Pride and Hope.”