The Secret History Behind Guam's Flag
Guam's flag was designed in 1917 by the wife of a U.S. naval officer.
Helen L. Paul designed it in 1917, without the red border, and the governor of Guam accepted it that year. It was formally adopted in 1930, and the version with the red border was approved on February 9, 1948.
The flag is dark blue with a red border and a central emblem in the shape of a Chamorro sling stone. Inside, a flying proa, the traditional sailing canoe, glides toward a coconut tree on a beach. The proa recalls the courage of the first settlers, who crossed the Pacific, and the palm tree stands for their determination to overcome harsh conditions. The red border is said to recall the blood shed during World War II and earlier Spanish rule.
The date printed on every Guam design in our catalog, December 10, 1898, is the day Spain ceded Guam to the United States in the Treaty of Paris.
A canoe, a stone and a palm on a blue field.
Looking for a gift with a story? See our heritage gift guide, or read the story behind any other country's flag on our free Flag Stories page.