Last modified: 2002-07-20 by dov gutterman
Keywords: virgin islands | united states | bald eagle | eagle | st. croix |
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by Zeljko Heimer, 13 Febuary 1996
See also:
The flag of the US Virgin Island shows a bird in a pose
similar to that on the US presidential flag or state arms.
However, its colouring is not that of a bald eagle, and it looks
much more benign. What is this bird?
Rob Raeside, 17 January 2000
It is a bald eagle. The flag of the Virgin Islands uses a
simplified version of the US coat of arms. National Geographic
Magazine, September 1934 attributes the flag as being that of the
Governor of the Virgin Islands, adopted by executive order of the
President. DK goes into more detail: adopted in 1921, the three
arrows represent the three main islands.
Phil Nelson, 17 January 2000
OK, it is supposed to be a bald eagle, since it was based on
the US arms. But, what does distinguish a (heraldic) bald eagle?
Only the white head, and nothing more. Yet this USVI eagle is all
golden, just like, say, the Russian or Egyptian eagles... And
that's weird, as even American Samoa shows a proper colored bald
eagle (not to mention Illinois, Utah, Iowa or New York...).
Antonio Martins, 20 January 2000
The official
website of the government of the Virgin Islands states:
The flag of the United States Virgin Islands was adopted by
Executive Order on May 17,1921. Upon a white field between, the
letters V I, an American Eagle in yellow is displayed with the
shield of the United States on its breast. A sprig of laurel is
in its dexter talon, while a bundle of three blue arrows are in
its sinister talon. The letters V I and the three arrows are in
azure blue and the blue of the shield is the blue of the arms and
flag of the United States.
Phil Nelson, 7 Febuary 2000
.gif)
from http://school.discovery.com/homeworkhelp/worldbook/atozpictures/lr002826.html
, located by Joe McMillan, 20 September 2001
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