A
Significant Present In any coat of arms, the herald
tries to achieve an attractive, easily recognizable, and above all,
unique design. Tradition dictates that arms be composed of all of
the following elements: arms, crest, supporters, and motto.
The Arms
are the devices borne on the shield, the most important element
of a complete coat of arms. The green hill of Powhatan's shield
refers to its name (which means, "hill of the pow-wow")
and the rural nature of the area. The dove, universal
symbol of peace, was used by the Huguenots who settled in the
area around 1700 as a sign that they wish to live peacefully
with their Quaker and Anglican neighbors. The two black
diamonds symbolize coal, and together with the golden tobacco
leaves, they stand for the area's richest early resources.
The Motto
is usually written in a scroll beneath the arms. This
French phrase, "Parmi Les Elus," means "among the
chosen," and is taken from a pronouncement attributed to
one of Powhatan's first Huguenot leaders.
The Badge
is a separate device, often composed of elements from the arms
and crest. Here it consists of a Huguenot cross with its
ends terminating in French fleur-de-lis to suggest rapid
growth. A golden circle of eternity unifies the whole.
The Crest
is a subsidiary device mounted atop the helm, resplendent in its
traditional mantling of red and gold. The idea of a green
hill is continued here as a grassy mound. On the mound is
perched a wild turkey, which provided the Monacan Indians with
feathers for their ceremonial dress and of course, food. The
turkey's gold color suggests excellence; its foot rests on a
golden fleur-de-lis in honor of the area's first European
residents, the French Huguenots; and it holds the state flower,
a sprig of dogwood, in its beak.
The Supporters
are granted to certain corporations for their extra dignity and honor,
and they serve the additional practical function of holding up the
shield. On the left side of the Powhatan coat of arms is a buffalo
and on the right, a white-tailed deer, the two creatures most typical of
the region in its early days. Each holds an arrow in its mouth...again
in recognition of the Monacan Indians...and rests its hind leg on a tree
stump to symbolize Powhatan's prosperous lumber industry.
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