Members Arms, Crests, Badges.

[Cardinal]

Fellow XMarker Harold Cannon just did a super coat of arms for me—I cannot recommend him highly enough! He is easy to work with, reasonably priced, extremely knowledgeable about the rules of heraldry, and as you can see, produces a superior product. As a bonus, I caught him during a slow period, and so he was fast as well!

I am so happy with his work that I have changed my username, from Troglodyte to Cardinal.

Here’s what we came up with:



SYMBOLISM

ARMS:

The dominant colors of red, white, and blue represent both the United States of America and the 82^nd Airborne Division, where I last commanded a unit in battle.

The livery colors of an armiger are represented by a wreath which crowns the helmet and are derived from the first named color and metal in the blazon. My livery colors are blue and white, which are also the colors of the U.S. Army Infantry.

Furze is the plant badge of my clan, Clan MacLennan, and its golden blossoms represent my five daughters. They are protected between two silver barrulets representing God and my country, and the strength I draw from them.

My three decades as a soldier are represented by a red wyvern, the violent creature that serves as the crest to the arms of my home regiment, the 508^th Parachute Infantry. My military career at an end, this wyvern stands to the side as an augmentation of honor on a gold canton, put away for now, but ready to again do violence if required.

CREST:

The North American cardinal is my wife's favorite bird, and is the state bird of both Virginia, my birth state, and North Carolina, the state where I spent my youth. The cardinal carefully reconnoiters an area before setting down to get food, thinking several steps ahead before acting, which mirrors my lifelong work as a strategist.

MOTTO:

The motto “Spes audaces adjuvat,” or “Hope assists the brave,” answers the motto of Clan MacLennan, “Dum spiro spero,” or “While I breathe, I hope.”


The best advertising being word of mouth, and the second best being a display of handiwork, I think Harold's skills are pretty well advertised here. This is my public thanks to him.

Best,
Patrick