U.S. Virgin Islands Flag History
The flag of the US Virgin Island shows a bird in a pose similar to that on the U.S. presidential flag or state arms.
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.
There really is little (if any) doubt that that the U.S.V.I. flag shows a simplified version of the US national emblem, and that Admiral Kettelle so designed it in 1921.
Leaving aside any consideration of the two practically identical shields, the U.S. emblem shows a bald eagle in its proper colours with outspread wings, and whilst it is arguable whether those wings are heroically "displayed" as per the official blazon or "Violant", those of the V.I. show a very similar attitude, with the bird (howsoever simplified in rendition) having an eagle's beak and clutching in its talons both a bunch of arrows and a branch in the same way as in the US..
