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The
armiger’s
maternal
grandfather was
a first
generation US
citizen of
parents who had
emigrated from
Germany with the
surname Dehn.
The most common
search for
heraldic images
for the name
Dehn results in
armorial
bearings with a
Germanic origin
(Or, a cauldron
Sable and in
chief a row of
three stars
Argent).
As no direct
connection can
be established
between the
armiger and the
historical arms
described above
for the surname
Dehn, the
armiger decided
to create his
own. Wanting to
pay tribute to
the historic
arms associated
with the surname
Dehn while
creating arms
unique to
himself, the
armiger decided
to combined
elements from
the historic
arms of Dehn
with those of
the historic
arms associated
with his wife’s
maiden name of
Damron (Argent,
between three
roundels Gules,
a chevron
Sable).
The
colour scheme
for the new
shield was
adopted from the
traditional arms
associated with
the name Damron.
The
chevron, in
addition to
being an element
of the historic
arms associated
with the name
Damron, is
believed by the
armiger to be
classically
associated with
protection or
military
service; it
serves as a
reminder that a
man is the
protector of his
family and as a
reminder of the
sacrifice of
those who serve
in the military.
While the
armiger never
served in the
military, many
of his family
members have.
The
armiger chose to
keep the
cauldron because
it is the
historical
symbol
associated with
the surname Dehn
and represents
hospitality and
support of one’s
family.
The
serpent on the
cauldron
reflects that
illustrated on
the Gadsden Flag
(U.S. Navy, and
U.S. Marine
Corps) and, to
the armiger,
symbolizes both
knowledge and
defiance. The
snake was the
creature that
tempted Eve into
eating the
forbidden fruit
of the knowledge
of good and
evil. The
Gadsden snake
symbolizes
American
patriotism,
disagreement
with the
overbearing of
government and a
support of civil
liberties.
The
stars are
intended to
resemble the
classic imagery
associated with
the star of
Bethlehem (The
star that led
the wise men to
the birthplace
of Christ). The
armiger also
considered the
three red stars
significant
because there
were three wise
men that sought
and found Christ
at his birth.
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