| The Coat of Arms takes its story from the age of chivalry. Knights in armor would get confused on the battlefield and attack their fellow knights--there was no way to distinguish one armored person from another. Knights began painting their shields, the design distinguishing them from other knights, and telling all which side they were fighting for. To this day, Coats of Arms carry the shield design in memory of their origins. Badges worn by police and other public service officials are traditionally patterned from the shield/coat of arms design. My Personal Crest distinguishes me from others, much like the shields of long ago. It uses art to embody who I am, my achievements, my aspirations and my convictions. A simplified and revised crest is also in popular use. The symbolism of the original crest is described below... |
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| The Claddagh | Represents love, loyalty, fidelity and friendship. |
| The Navy Blue Coloring | Naval Service |
| The Fleur-de-Lis | Organizational Connections |
| The Three Bi-colored Diamonds | The colors of Educational Institutions I've attended. Left to right: Cornell University (Carnelian), Bremerton High School (Blue and Gold), Bremerton Middle School (Blue and White). |
| The Staff on the Grey Background | My interest in Music and Performance. |
| The Green Color of the Scroll | Represents my home state of Washington, "The Evergreen State." |
| "Fidere-Scire" | The Latin roots for "Religion" and "Science," two balancing forces in my pursuit for knowledge. Later additions to the scroll are "Excellentia" and "Gravitas" for "Excellence" and "Intensity." |
| The "ATIENZA" in Green | The Color of Prosperity and Opportunity--the reasons for my parents' immigration to the United States. |
| The Crimson Coloring | To me, crimson signifies a hard work ethic that is indiscriminate of cultural background or upbringing. |
| The Cross | Continuing development of a personal faith. |