A submarine named in honor of North Dakota has an official crest to go along with its commissioning in 2014.
More than 100 potential USS North Dakota Crests were submitted. The USS North Dakota Committee and the Navy decided on a final crest.
Retired State Judge Bob Wefald is the committee chairman. Wefald says he has worked on this project since 1985 when he joined the Military Affairs Committee at the Chamber of Commerce.
“We’re building more and more enthusiasm; we are getting the word out across the state. I believe the people of North Dakota are going to have enormous great pride in this,” Wefald said. “This is a great thing for our state. We are just thrilled to have this and the people of North Dakota, when they see this commissioned, they are just going to be impressed.”
Wefald said the crest has a strong representation of North Dakota. The crest is in the shape of an arrow head and has crossed tomahawks which represents Native American heritage. Horses can be seen on the crest which represents the state’s frontier days. Wheat stalks on the sides of the crest represent the state’s agriculture importance.
“As a history buff I am particularly thrilled that they have the silhouette of the first USS North Dakota because it ties in the old to the new and it’s just incredible,” Wefald said. “And of course I am just very pleased with all the North Dakota themes. I love that they have ‘strength of the soil’ written in there.”
The motto of the ship is “strength from the soil and reapers of the deep.”