American Samoa Flag

Description

American Samoa is an unincorporated territory of the United States located in the South Pacific Ocean, southeast of (the independent nation of) Samoa. Its location is centred on 14.2710° S, 170.1322° W. It is east of the International Date Line, while Samoa is west of the Line. American Samoa consists of five main islands and two coral atolls. The largest and most populous island is Tutuila, with the Manuʻa Islands, Rose Atoll, and Swains Island also included in the territory. The capital is Pago Pago. All islands except for Swains Island are part of the Samoan Islands, located west of the Cook Islands, north of Tonga, and some 300 miles (500 km) south of Tokelau. To the west are the islands of the Wallis and Futuna groups.

The flag of American Samoa is a flag consisting of a red-edged white triangle pointing towards the hoist charged with a bald eagle clutching a war club and fly-whisk, with dark blue upper and lower triangles. Adopted in April 1960 to replace the “Stars and Stripes” as the official flag of the territory, it has been the flag of the Territory of American Samoa since that year. The colours used epitomise the traditional colours of the United States and Samoa. The colours and symbols of the flag carry cultural, political, and regional meanings. The red, white and blue represent the colours traditionally utilised by both the United States and Samoa. The bald eagle represents the U.S. and features on the flag, although it does not live in American Samoa. It clutches two Samoan symbols, alluding to America’s guardianship over American Samoa, as well as evoking the Great Seal of the United States. The symbols are a uatogi (a war club, epitomising the government’s power) and a fue (a fly whisk, representing the wisdom of traditional Samoan leaders).