Federated States of Micronesia

Federated States of Micronesia
Adopted	November 30, 1978
Designed by	Gonzalo Santos
Proportions	10:19

The flag of the Federated States of Micronesia is light blue with four white five-pointed stars centred; the stars are arranged in a diamond pattern.

Symbolism

The flag is based on the design and symbolism of the flag formerly used by the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands.

The light blue color on the background suggests the Pacific ocean on which this island is placed, and is also a reference to the United Nations. The four white stars in the flag represent four islands who together make up the Federation. These four islands are Chuuk, Pohnpei, Kosrae and Yap.

History

The flag of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands in 1962-1979

On United Nations Day, October 24, 1962, a flag was first hoisted for the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands (TTPI), which, under United Nations supervision, was being administered by the United States. The colours of that flag, light blue and white, were based on those of the United Nations flag. Designed by Gonzalo Santos, the flag received final approval in 1965 based on a vote in the National Congress of Micronesia.

The six white stars in the Trust Territory flag corresponded to the six districts of the country—Palau, the Marshall Islands, and the Northern Mariana Islands (all of which later became separate states), as well as Yap, Truk (now Chuuk), and Ponape (now Pohnpei). The three latter island groups became the Federated States of Micronesia in 1979, together with the additional district of Kusaie (now Kosrae). The new Micronesian flag was designed and approved by an interim congress on November 30, 1978. Free association with the United States was achieved on November 3, 1986, and later a slight modification in the flag was made: dark blue was substituted for the "United Nations blue" of the original TTPI flag.