Background
Before the Army Seal is worn to identify and symbolize the U.S. Department of the Army, it was originally used to authenticate documents during the American Revolution and was not made available for public display. First used in 1778, it remained unaltered until 1974, when the War Office banner was changed with “Department of the Army”.
Description
The Institute of Heraldry described the seal as:
In the center is a Roman cuirass below a vertical unsheathed sword, point up, the pommel resting on the neck opening of the cuirass and a Phrygian cap supported on the sword point, all between on the right an esponton and on the left a musket with fixed bayonet crossed in saltire behind the cuirass and passing under the sword guard. To the right of the cuirass and esponton is a flag of unidentified designs with cords and tassels, on a flagstaff with spearhead, above a cannon barrel, the muzzle end slanting upward behind the cuirass, in front of the drum, with two drumsticks and the fly end of the flag draped over the drumhead; below, but partly in front of the cannon barrel, is a pile of three cannon balls. To the left of the cuirass and musket is a national color of the Revolutionary War period, with cords and tassels, on a flagstaff with spearhead, similarly arranged above a mortar on a carriage, the mortar facing inward and in front of the lower portion of the color and obscuring the lower part of it; below the mortar are two bomb shells placed side by side. Centered above the Phrygian cap is a rattlesnake holding in its mouth a scroll inscribed “This We’ll Defend.” Centered below the cuirass are the Roman numerals “MDCCLXXVIII.”
Symbolism
The Roman cuirass, placed at the center of the seal symbolizes strength and defense. Army implements, on the other hand, are represented by the sword, esponton, musket, bayonet, cannon, cannon balls, mortar, and mortar bombs.
Current use
Today, the seal is recognized as an embodiment of the U.S. Army’s ideals of loyalty, vigilance, perseverance, truth, courage, zeal, fortitude, remembrance determination, constancy, achievement, dignity, and honor.
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