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Vieques (Puerto Rico)

image by Blas Delgado, 10 July 2000

Overview
Previous Flag
Coat of Arms

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Other Sites:

Vieques-island.com (In Spanish)

Overview

Called "La Isla Nena" (Little Girl Island) or "Isabel Segunda" (Isabel II). Vieques was founded in 1843 by Francisco Sai'nz. It's about 21 miles long and about 5 miles across at its widest point (55 square miles). It was annexed to Puerto Rico in 1854. Vieques derives its name from the Taino Indian word for small island (bieques). Population: 8,062 Area: 135 Km2
On Vieques, beauty and history merge on a 25 by 4 mile island. Arawak Indians once lived here and it was an infamous haven for pirates during 17th century, before, during and after which various European powers fought for control of Vieques. Punta Mulas Lighthouse was built in 1896. This old lighthouse still protects the port, boasts a beam that can be seen from as far as 16 miles. Isabel Segunda port, holds the distinction of being the last fort built by the Spaniards in the New World. The island is located between Puerto Rico and St. Thomas, and is separated from the southeast coast of Puerto Rico by approximately 8 miles of sea, although if you are taking a ferry from Fajardo the distance will be 18 miles. Since 1941 about 70% of Vieques has been under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Navy, which is used as a training area.
Jarig Bakker , 6 Febuary 2000

This is the new and official - and a more simplyfied version - of the Vieques flag, which has appeared recently in TV due to the notoriety of the case with the US Navy. Previously I reported it as an alternate version, which appears in the Lexjuris site, but - owing to this not been a quite reliable source - I decided not to portrait it as the official flag. The Privious version was used last year at Vieques' beaches at the beginning of the US Navy conflict probably due to ignorance of the existence of the present one.
Blas Delgado, 10 July 2000

At <story.news.yahoo.com> there is a photo titled as: "Anti-U.S. Navy protestor Alberto DeJesus Mercado, who is also known as 'Tito Kayak,' unfurls the Vieques flag that he placed on top of the U.S. Navy practice bombing observation tower in Vieques, Puerto Rico on Thursday, May 1, 2003. Hundreds of protesters broke through a fence at the Vieques bombing range Thursday, raising the Caribbean island's flag and destroying U.S Navy vehicles as they celebrated the end to nearly 60 years of U.S. bombing exercises. (AP Photo/ Tomas van Houtryve)"
It seems the back only has stripes, or maybe only this particular copy?
Also noted that the shape of the Coat of Arms in the photo suggest that it is the Previous Flag of Vieques.
Mark Sensen, 2 May 2003 and Dov Gutterman, 6 May 2003

Previous Flag

image by Blas Delgado

Coat of Arms

by Nelson Román, 20 July 2004

It is stamped by a naval crown instead of a stone crown, to emphasize its insular character.
The wave in blue and silver = Ocean.
Rhombus = Vieques Island.
Green Color = Vegetation of the Island.
Castle represent Spain.
Firts Banner is the nickname of Vieques: Isla Nena (baby girl island). Second Banner is the name: Municipio de Vieques (Vieques Municipality).
Nelson Román, 20 July 2004