Crest
The ship's crest and shield were designed to honor the memory of Colonel William "Rich" Higgins, USMC and to signify the power of the warship that bears his name.
- Dark blue and gold are traditional colors of the Navy, symbolizing the sea and excellence.
- The griffin, denoting valor and intelligence, holds an axe that indicates HIGGINS’ readiness and ability to engage in land-based hostilities.
- The griffin and the trident symbolize ’ modern weapon systems HIGGINS possesses, which gives her the versatility of air combat and undersea engagements.
- The shield’s “V” signifies victory and recalls the Combat “V” earned by Colonel Higgins.
- White denotes integrity; gold symbolizes excellence.
- The cloverleaf on the shield stands for good fortune.
- The crest’s anchor represents the Navy.
- Two wreaths symbolize the many military and civilian honors awarded Col. Higgins and signify unusual achievement.
- The Naval Officer’s sword and the Marine Corps Officer’s Mameluke emphasize the long-standing tradition of cooperation between the Navy and Marine Corps in both peacetime and war, and recall Col. Higgins’ outstanding service to his country as a Marine.
Read more about this topic: USS Higgins (DDG-76)
Famous quotes containing the word crest:
“What shall he have that killed the deer?
His leather skin and horns to wear.
Then sing him home.
Take thou no scorn to wear the horn,
It was a crest ere thou wast born;
Thy father’s father wore it,
And thy father bore it.
The horn, the horn, the lusty horn
Is not a thing to laugh to scorn.”
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616)
“The history of any nation follows an undulatory course. In the trough of the wave we find more or less complete anarchy; but the crest is not more or less complete Utopia, but only, at best, a tolerably humane, partially free and fairly just society that invariably carries within itself the seeds of its own decadence.”
—Aldous Huxley (1894–1963)