The Great Seal of the United States of America

While this is not a forgotten symbol, not all of us remembers what each part of it means. Interestingly, the number 13 is used over and over:

The pattern of 13 in the US Great Seal is used as a tribute of remembrance to honor the first 13 Colonies and 13 new States in the new nation, America. This includes:

1. 13 Stars in the Crest above the eagle
2. 13 Stripes in the Shield upon the eagle's breast
3. 13 Arrows in the eagle's left claw
4. 13 Olives and Leaves in the eagles' right claw
5. 13 Letters in the motto carried by the eagle, E Pluribus Unum

The original 13 Colonies are:

Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, New York
, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Virginia, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia.

Robt