Guam Day, Motto, and Nickname

GUAM DAY July 21 STATUS Official DATE OF ADMISSION TO UNITED STATES August 1, 1950 (as unincorporated territory) FORMER/OTHER DESIGNATIONS Guahan (Chamorro) HISTORY Guam was under Spanish rule until 1898, when, under the terms of the Treaty of Paris at the conclusion of the Spanish-American War, the United States took control of it. Until 1941, the island served as a waypoint for U.S. ships traveling to the Philippines and other ports in Southeast Asia. In December 1941, Japanese military forces invaded and occupied Guam. The United States recaptured the island in 1944. Under the Guam Organic Act of 1950, Guam became an unincorporated organized territory of the United States. The proposal for statehood has been advanced by a number of Guamanian citizens, in an effort to establish a plebiscite under the supervision of the United Nations. Three options have been considered for Guam: statehood, independence, or continued territorial status. Although several attempts were made in 2000, 2002, and 2004 to schedule a plebiscite, a vote has yet to be formalized. MOTTO "Where America’s Day Begins" Guam's motto, "Where America's Day Begins," refers to its geographic location—it is on the other side of the International Dateline from Hawaii, and therefore is a day ahead of the rest of the United States. NICKNAMES "Land of the Chamorro," "Hub of the Pacific," "Gateway to Micronesia" "Land of the Chamorro" (Guahan i tano’ Chamorro) refers to the indigenous inhabitants of Guam, who populate many of the islands of Micronesia. Guam has also been called the "Hub of the Pacific" because of its location. Both early Spanish exploration and United States military defense have benefited strategically from Guam’s location in the Pacific. "Gateway to Micronesia" reflects its relationship to other Pacific islands.  -World Trade Press