Symbolism of the Crest of the USMA Class of 2014
a. American Flag – The American Flag serves a dual purpose. Primarily, the flag represents the nation we have sworn to protect and defend and reminds us that we are American. The flag’s secondary purpose is to remind each of us the weight of leadership we bear as officers and graduates. West Point graduates have borne the yoke of leading American forces to victory under the flag for centuries and the flag serves as a reminder of that legacy of leadership that will be expected of our class.
b. USMA – USMA serves as a representation of our Alma Mater but also serves as a physical embodiment of the core values engrained in each cadet: Duty, Honor, Country.
c. Eagle – The bald eagle continues to maintain its traditional representation freedom, spirit, and the pursuit of excellence. The Class of 2014, however, has made the eagle more war beaten (ruffled feathers and a warrior’s gaze) to represent each graduates position as a custodian of freedom and the cost of constant vigilance in our pursuit to ensure the prosperity and freedom of the nation.
d. “Forever One Team” – The banner affixed represents the motto of the Class of 2014. The eagle hold’s the banner in its mouth to represent the class’ dedication to upholding the USMA tradition of uniting all people, regardless of background or creed, beneath the American flag in a pursuit to build and defend a better future.
e. Saber and Sword – The saber and sword sit before the eagle’s wings and represent the tools of our trade. As officers, we will serve in many positions as many things but the sword and saber serve to remind each graduate that we are first and foremost warriors called to live by the sword and, should freedom require it, die by the sword.
f. Roman Numeral – The Roman numeral fourteen represents our class year. Moreover, the use of roman numerals captures the ancient spirit that underlies the theme of the crest and plays an integral part in the overall design of the ring as it serves as the base for the design. The use of Roman numerals offer an aesthetically pleasing feature to the ring while capturing the strength and power of the glory days of the historical Roman Republic which serves as the model of a victorious military force defending the will of the people.
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