Blue for the Citadel and the Army’s first branch The Infantry. White is one of the colors of the College of Charleston and represents the purity of our institutions. Gold is one of the colors of Charleston Southern University and the Medical University of South Carolina and represents the sacrifice of Army families. Red for the spirit flag of The Citadel and the courage of Soldiers everywhere. The four quarters allude to the four Colleges of the Palmetto Battalion, to the Honor Code of the Corps of Cadets, and the four principles on which it is based. The four quarters also refer to the original four battalions of The Citadel where Cadets were billeted and the Fourth-Class system, the foundation of the Corps of Cadets' conduct and discipline. The chevron, a military symbol, is also symbolic of a “rooftree.” Placed over the four quarters, it symbolizes, under the jurisdiction and guidance of the staff, faculty, and cadre, the molding of character and the development of mental, physical, spiritual, and moral attributes which are synonymous with The Citadel, its graduates, and the Army. The chevron is embattled to represent the strength of character, fortitude, and academic excellence of cadets. The seven battlements on the chevron represent the seven Army Values. The two “arms” of the chevron also refer to the Old Citadel Campus on Marion Square and the Greater Citadel of today, and to the Ashley and Cooper Rivers. An augmentation of honor consisting of a red canton bearing a palmetto tree and gorget simulates the “Big Red” spirit flag that The Citadel and its graduates have flown in combat and in honor of veterans, the alumni of The Citadel and our hallowed dead. The color blue is symbolic of loyalty and truth, white of unselfishness and faith, red of leadership, zeal, devotion, and courage, and gold of sacrifice and victory. The palmetto tree and gorget are both South Carolina symbols. The first South Carolina Flag, Moultrie 1775, was blue with a single white gorget in the upper dexter corner; a silver gorget was worn by several South Carolina militia units during the Revolution. In 1861, a white palmetto tree was added to the gorget flag. The palmetto tree was also used as an emblem by various South Carolina military organizations, notably the Palmetto Rifles which was trained by Citadel Cadets and sent from South Carolina to fight in the Mexican American War. A large gold palmetto tree is the predominant emblem in the cap device of the Corps of Cadets. The two Cadet swords, symbolic of command, allude to duty and responsibility, and in being unsheathed and interlaced with the palmetto tree and gorget, signify the constant vigilance and readiness of the Corps of Cadets to defend their heritage and their country.