The Arms of the Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets

Arms of the Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets.
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2024.

As a follow up from my previous posting regarding the arms of the Virginia Military Institute (VMI), I want to share another Virginian collegiate-military coat of arms from Virginia Tech's Corps of Cadets.  The Corps of Cadets is a military component of Virginia Tech, a public university located in Blacksburg.  Established in 1872, the Corps of Cadets sport a rather simple and pleasant coat of arms.  

Col. Harry D. Temple (1911-2004) from the US Army Institute of Heraldry not only designed VMI's arms but also those of his alma mater, Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets.  

Designed in 1965, the Corps arms are blazoned:  Ermine, on a pale Gules a sword point upward Argent, pommel and hilt Or.

Armorial flag of the Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets.
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2024.

Through Temple's design for Virginia Tech, we see the sword in pale used to identify the bearer as military--the same scheme he used earlier in 1961 for VMI's coat of arms.  I appreciate and admire Temple's desire to maintain consistency in charges for identification, as I believe when viewing all arms with the associated charge makes a powerful constant in a designer's armorial.  

L-R: Arms of VMI and Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets both designed
by Col. Harry D. Temple.
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2024.

Seeing the two sets of arms above, I believe, furthers my argument.  Click on the label below "Harry D. Temple" to see his other designs covered.  

The Arms of the Virginia Military Institute

The arms of VMI set within its famous monogram.
Created by Chad Krouse, 2024.

The Commonwealth of Virginia has its own militia, that's right.  Right next door to Washington & Lee University in Lexington, the Virginia Military Institute (VMI) has a rich legacy of producing leaders along with a strong alumni network.  Established on November 11, 1839, VMI was the first state military college at that time, and whose cadets even fought in Civil War.

Coat of arms of the Virginia Military Institute.
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2024.

Devised in 1961 by Col. Harry D. Temple, the Director of the US Army Institute of Heraldry, the arms of VMI abstractly honor the institution's legacy and blazoned:  "Argent, on a cross Gules a sword in pale point upward of the first, pommel and hilt Or, surmounted by an antique lamp inflamed of the third, on a canton Sable a chevron rompu Or."  Click here to read the document from VMI's archives regarding their arms.  

The arms of the Virginia Company
granted by the College of Arms in 1619.
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2024.

From a design rationale point of view, here is a breakdown of the heraldic elements.  The red cross references the same found in the arms of the Virginia Company granted by the College of Arms in 1619.  

The sword in pale identifies the militaristic character of the school and combines this reference with the oil lamp for scholarship and learning.  The black canton and broken chevron hits a little closer to home for VMI, as this augmentation of honor references those cadets who lost their lives in the valiant charge on May 15, 1864 in the Battle of New Market.  I find the use of the chevron rompu, here, to be extremely meaningful for all in the VMI community.  

The US Army Institute of Heraldry devised a crest and motto to compliment the arms.  Consilio et Animis, or "By wisdom and courage," is truly a fitting motto for such a place.  

Concept for incorporating numerous elements into a seal.
Created by Chad Krouse, 2024.

Admittedly I had not paid VMI's arms much attention over the years--in fact I had altogether forgot about them until recently.  I'm glad I spent some time rendering VMI's arms, as Col. Temple has a great record designing all manner of corporate arms--civic, ecclesiastical, scholastic, and military.  Click here to read about Col. Temple's design of arms for Tift College.  

Banner of arms of VMI.
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2024.

The Arms of Woodberry Forest School

My take on a seal with arms for Woodberry Forest School.
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2024.

Not terribly far from Richmond, Virginia is Woodberry Forest School, a preparatory school for boys and young men established in 1889.  For the longest time I've admired the simplicity of the school's coat of arms, but never dug into their origins.  Recently, I needed to render the arms and armorial flag for a project and this gave me pause to begin thinking critically about this straightforward design.  

There is little (and I mean little) information regarding WFS' coat of arms; however, its clear that the school community highly cherishes this symbol as the arms literally adorn every item in the bookstore.  I've only seen the arms set within a wafer style seal bearing the school's name and date of establishment.  I've added their version below for reference.  

Official seal and coat of arms of Woodberry Forest School.

Image source: WFS website.

Fill the field! This heraldic design rule always rang loudly whenever I encountered WFS' arms. Yet, when I finished my emblazonment recently I had a "grinchy" change of heart. I actually like the simplicity of the design, though not a big fan of stains such as "tenne."

From what I can observe, the arms also a "cant" or heraldic pun on the school's name--three trees to create a forest, get it? It is clever. Orange and black are the school's livery colors; it appears that from some desired need to incorporate those tinctures in a design of new arms resulted in the orange stained chevron. I think I just didn't like the school's version where everything appears flimsy and rather small.

Coat of arms of Woodberry Forest School.
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2024.

I was intentional in filling the space with a thicker chevron and robust evergreen trees.  Without any data, I give the blazon for WFS' arms as:  Argent a chevron Tenne between as many pine trees eradicated Vert. 

Armorial flag of Woodberry Forest School.
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2024.

I have contacted the school's archives for information on the arms.  If my request is successful, I'll update this post. 

Saint Nicholas' Day

A design for the attributed arms of Saint Nicholas, designed by Michael Quigley, American Heraldry Society and rendered by Chad Krouse, 2024. 

On December 6th, the Church observes the Feast of St. Nicholas of Myra who died on this day 343 A.D.  My friend and heraldic colleague Father Guy Selvester blogs more about our beloved December saint here.  The attributed arms above were designed by another friend and heraldic colleague from the American Heraldry Society, Michael Quigley.

We can blazon these arms as:  Per fess fir twigs Vert and Gules, three bezants.  

Attributed arms, of course, are those armorial ensigns appropriated to an individual who did not bear arms--likely because she or he lived pre-heraldry.  Can you imagine?  

Banner of arms
rendered by Chad Krouse, 2024.

I chose darker versions for the tinctures and bezants for an old world feel.  I think it works!