Symbols and Emblems

These items in NMAD's collection include symbols and emblems used in diplomacy.

Showing 1–10 of 26 results

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    Hostage "Welcome Home" Button

    In November 1979, 52 Americans in the U.S. Embassy in Tehran were taken hostage by Iranian students. The hostage crisis lasted for 444 days. Closely following the crisis for over a year, the American public wanted to show their support for the hostages and their families. The yellow ribbon became an iconic…

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    Ambassador Crocker's Commission

    This Foreign Service Commission dated March 25, 1991, promoted Ryan C. Crocker to the rank of Minister-Counselor in the Foreign Service. While Crocker was serving as ambassador to Syria in 1998, rioters broke into his official residence, causing significant damage and leaving this commission soiled and damaged.

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    Anne Smedinghoff Memorial Plaque

    Tragedy struck a diplomatic delegation and their military escorts on April 6, 2013, in southern Afghanistan. A young diplomat named Anne Smedinghoff, three U.S. soldiers, and an Afghani interpreter were killed in a car bomb blast that targeted their group as they were delivering books to a boys' school. Anne was a…

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    Anne Smedinghoff Challenge Coin

    Tragedy struck a diplomatic delegation and their military escorts on April 6, 2013, in southern Afghanistan. A young diplomat named Anne Smedinghoff, three U.S. soldiers, and an Afghani interpreter were killed in a car bomb blast that targeted their group as they were delivering books to a boys' school. Anne was a…

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    U.S. Flag Flown For Hostages

    In November 1979, 52 Americans in the U.S. Embassy in Tehran were taken hostage by Iranian students. The hostage crisis lasted for 444 days. Closely following the crisis for over a year, the American public wanted to show their support for the hostages and their families. Yellow ribbons and flags were popular…

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    U.S. Flag from Embassy Havana

    The U.S. and Cuba re-established official diplomatic relations on July 20, 2015, and U.S. Embassy Havana was officially reopened on August 14, 2015, by Secretary of State John Kerry. During the reopening ceremony, this U.S. flag was handed off by the last Marines to serve at U.S. Embassy Havana in 1961 to…

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    Damaged Great Seal Emblem

    This large metal Great Seal emblem, measuring approximately 4 ft. in diameter, was located at the entrance to the U.S. Consulate Herat, Afghanistan, and was damaged during the September 13, 2013, attack on the consulate by a truck bomb. Eight Afghan guards lost their lives defending the Consulate during this attack.

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    Consular Wax Seal Stamp

    This device was used for making wax impressions of the Great Seal at U.S. Consulate General Hamburg, Germany until 2007 when the consular section of the Consulate closed.

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    Charred Great Seal

    Protesters in Belgrade, Serbia, attacked and set fire to the U.S. embassy on February 21, 2008, in response to U.S. support for Kosovo's independence. A large rally of Serbs, vowing to retake the neighboring territory which is viewed as Serbia's religious and national heartland, preceded the attack on the embassy. This seal, which…

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    Order of Merit of Berlin

    This high German honor was presented to Ambassador Harry Gilmore, U.S. Minister to Berlin, in 1991 for “outstanding contributions to the state of Berlin.” The medallion is in the shape of the Maltese cross with the coat of arms of Berlin in center. Gilmore was the last person to occupy the position.…