Kiribati

The flag of Kiribati was adopted on 12 July 1979 at independence. Its design is derived directly from a colonial badge created by Sir Arthur Grimble in 1931 for the Gilbert and Ellice Islands and officially granted in 1937. The golden frigatebird symbolizes command over the sea, freedom, and traditional dance. The rising sun has 17 rays representing the 16 Gilbert Islands and Banaba, while the blue and white wavy bands represent the Pacific Ocean and the island groups of Kiribati. The flag is a rare modern national example of an armorial banner that reproduces the shield of the national coat of arms.