History Of The Marine Corps Emblem and Seal
The history of the Marine Corps emblem is a story
related to the history of the Corps itself. The emblem
of today traces its roots to the designs and ornaments
of early Continental Marines as well as British Royal
Marines. The emblem took its present form in 1868.
Before that time many devices, ornaments, and
distinguishing marks followed one another as official
marks of the Corps.
In 1776, the device consisted of a "foul anchor" of
silver or pewter. The foul anchor still forms a part
of the emblem today. (A foul anchor is an anchor which
has one or more turns of the chain around it). Changes
were made in 1798, 1821, and 1824. In 1834 it was
prescribed that a brass eagle be worn on the hat, the
eagle to measure 3 = inches from wingtip to wingtip.
During the early years numerous distinguishing marks
were prescribed, including "black cockades", "scarlet
plumes," and "yellow bands and tassels." In 1859 the
origin of the present color scheme for the officer's
dress uniform ornaments appeared on an elaborate
device of solid white metal and yellow metal. The
design included a United States shield, half wreath, a
bugle, and the letter "M."
In 1868, Brigadier General Commandant Jacob Zeilin
appointed a board "to decide and report upon the
various devices of cap ornaments of the Marine Corps."
On 13 November 1868, the board turned in its report.
It was approved by the Commandant four days later, and
on 19 November 1868 was signed by the Secretary of the
Navy.
The emblem recommended by this board consists of a
globe (showing the Western Hemisphere) intersected by
a foul anchor, and surmounted by a spread eagle. On
the emblem itself, the device is topped by a ribbon
inscribed with the Latin motto "Semper Fidelis"
(Always Faithful). The uniform ornaments omit the
motto ribbon.
The general design of the emblem was probably derived
from the British Royal Marines' "Globe and Laurel."
The globe on the U.S. Marine emblem signifies service
in any part of the world. The eagle also indirectly
signifies service worldwide, although this may not
have been the intention of the designers in 1868. The
eagle which they selected for the Marine emblem is a
crested eagle, a type found all over the world. On the
other hand, the eagle pictured on the great seal and
the currency of the United States is the bald eagle,
strictly a North American variety. The anchor, whose
origin dates back to the founding of the Marine Corps
in 1775, indicates the amphibious nature of Marines'
duties.
On 22 June 1954, President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed
an Executive Order, which approved the design of an
official seal for the United States Marine Corps. The
new seal had been designed at the request of the
Commandant of the Marine Corps, General Lemuel C.
Shepherd, Jr.
The new seal consisted of the traditional Marine Corps
emblem in bronze; however, an American bald eagle
replaced the crested eagle depicted on the 1868
emblem, and is depicted with wings displayed, standing
upon the western hemisphere of the terrestrial globe,
and holding in his beak a scroll inscribed with the
Marine Corps motto "Semper Fidelis" (Ever Faithful)
with the hemisphere superimposed on a foul anchor. The
seal is displayed on a scarlet background encircled
with a Navy blue band edged in a gold rope rim and
inscribed "Department of the Navy, United States
Marine Corps" in gold letters. Coincident with the
approval of this seal by the President, the emblem
centered on the seal was adopted in 1955 as the
official Marine Corps Emblem.
Reference Section
History and Museums Division
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