AFMES unveils new seal

  • Published
  • By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Jonteil Johnson
  • Armed Forces Medical Examiner System Public Affairs
DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. --  Service members and civilians celebrated the unveiling of the new official seal of the Armed Forces Medical Examiner Systems May 26, 2016, at AFMES on Dover AFB.

Air Force Master Sgt. Kathryn Bonavita, the master of ceremonies, opened with brief information about the agency responsible for creating the new seal.

"Today, we pay special tribute to AFMES by unveiling the official seal that was created and registered with the Institute of Heraldry," said Bonavita. "Heraldry can be defined as a communication system that uses colors and symbols for the purpose of personal or organizational identification."

Bonavita goes on to explain that without a symbol or some form of organizational recognition, the AFMES mission could not be fully understood. The changing of the seal not only signifies the switch of the Director, the highest military position held at AFMES, but also a shift into the future and a more modern mission.

Bonavita introduced Army Col. Ladd Tremaine, AFMES director, to share his passion for the new seal.

"Today marks a very historic moment for AFMES," said Tremaine. "I am very proud to witness the creation of our official seal. It represents our mission and captures our identity, past, present and future. This seal embodies our honorable mission in symbolism, and we the AFMES family embody it in action," said Tremaine.

The symbolism of the seal is as follows:
The colors of the seal are black, white, red and silver. Black is emblematic of mortality and mystery. White illuminates as well as personifies life, purity and the pursuit of knowledge. Red embodies blood and sacrifice. Silver signifies sterility, precision and alludes to medical instruments. The caduceus and scales of justice are intertwined to indicate the pursuit of fair and balanced legal and medical inquiry and the office of the Armed Forces Medical Examiner. The chevron conveys the Armed services aspect. The globe emphasizes the world-wide reach of AFMES, while the wreath around it is indicative of honor and prestige. The ethanol molecule alludes to the forensic toxicology department. Encompassing all, the ring of DNA illustrates both the Department of Defense DNA Registry as well as the literal unifying, unbroken bond between everyone and every living thing.

AFMES is an organization dedicated to the medicolegal investigation of all personnel contracted under the Department of Defense. AFMES will routinely perform autopsies to establish a cause of death and will deploy its personnel to different parts of the world to complete this mission. Personnel will also assist in identification and cause of death via toxicology analysis, finger printing and dental examination.