“The shirts are copy written and cannot be reproduced without Marine Safety Detachment’s approval,” according to Marine Science Technician First Class Michelle K. Duty of the U.S. Coast Guard.
What makes this shirt special?
The U.S. Coast Guard was first stationed on Saipan in the area where the Pacific Islands Club is now located. This was in 1944 and the Coast Guard’s station had an official logo.
The Marine Safety Detachment, a small unit of only three active duty Coast Guard personnel under the command of Sector Guam, had no logo of its own so it used Guam’s.
But Duty believed that MSD deserved its own logo.
Using crayons and a plain white paper, she drew images that she believed represented Saipan and the Coast Guard. She then submitted them to the Coast Guard on Guam, which gave its approval.
“The goal of the logo was to provide representation of Saipan, representation of marine activity, and representation of the Coast Guard,” said local artist Robert Hunter, who helped develop the logo.
The 100 shirts I mentioned earlier show the MSD’s official logo.
It is the Coast Guard’s tradition that t-shirts are made and worn with pride at the stations with the logo representing that particular area, Duty said.
Hunter, whose father was a “Coastie” stationed on Saipan, was just as eager to help develop the logo.
The logo speaks about the role, duty and responsibilities of the MSD on Saipan and its relation to the community.
The MSD logo features significant island landmarks — Banzai Cliff and the flame tree. It also shows a diver and the Coast Guard insignia.
“The Coast Guard had a number of ideas of what they wanted to be included in the logo. I simply served as an artist to provide a number of various designs that incorporated these ideas. Upon their review and after number of changes, I completed a final design,” Hunter said.
Duty said the circular rope represents the maritime community and the safety and security of the community.
“I like it and I think it is cool,” she said.
Hunter said the Banzai Cliff touches on the island’s history and it is also an area that draws fishermen and divers.
The official Coast Guard insignia of orange and blue ties in with the flame tree and the ocean, he added.
“Because the logo is to be made into a fairly small embroidered patch, it needed to be somewhat simple, as small details could not be reproduced in heavy embroidery. This is why Banza Cliff, the flame tree and the diver are more graphic. This need for simplicity dictated the course of the design,” he said.
Duty said she is overwhelmed by the people’s acceptance of the logo and is eager to share it with the community.
