Why the Bald Eagle Feather ?
Several people asked “Why use a feather to memorialize our Fallen?” I think the article quoted below best explains why the Bald Eagle feather was chosen:
The bald eagle has been symbolic in different cultures in North America and is solely native to this continent. The bald eagle is a powerful animal that works in a team or as an individual and harvests from land, sea and air. This so reminds me of our military forces.
In an article from Maude M. Grant it is said the eagle was used as a national emblem because, at one of the first battles of the Revolution (which occurred early in the morning) the noise of the struggle awoke the sleeping eagles on the heights and they flew from their nests and circled about over the heads of the fighting men, all the while giving vent to their raucous cries. "They are shrieking for Freedom," said the patriots. Thus the eagle, full of the boundless spirit of freedom, living above the valleys, strong and powerful in his might, has become the national emblem of a country that offers freedom in word and thought and an opportunity for a full and free expansion into the boundless space of the future.
The eagle feathers themselves have great meaning to Native Americans. The eagle feather symbolizes honor, strength, wisdom, power, freedom and trust. These are all characteristics that our military service members are not only taught but are traits expected to become part of the moral fiber of each service member. A bald eagle or golden eagle feather is the most revered feathers that could be given to another. It is disrespectful to hide these feathers away. The feathers must be displayed. They must be handled with care and respect. As we handle the American Flag.
(referenced: http://www.indians.org/articles/feathers.html; www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bald_eagle; www.genome.wustl.edu/articles/detail/american-bald-eagle-sequenced; www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bird_flight)
The feather that is used for this carving is the feather known as the primary flight feather. These feathers are important in providing lift and thrust. They move the bird forward as our military moves to protect our way of life.
There were other options, but none would have been as fine a choice as the bald eagle primary flight feather.