SHIELD
Azure, fretty Argent a bezant bearing the head of Andrew Mellon; on a chief of the second a palm frond Proper bendsinisterwise superimposed by two lighting bolts bendwise Gules and of the first. CREST: From a wreath Argent and Azure a demi-Steller's sea eagle, wings inverted holding in its beak the end of a line issuing from a coiled rope.
MOTTO
A scroll Argent, edged Azure and inscribed "PRIMUS INTER PARES" (First Among Equals) Gules.
SUPPORTERS
Two stylized harpoons (in the manner of the Pacific Coast Indians) saltirewise barbs up Proper. .
SEAL
The coat of arms as blazoned upon a white disc enclosed by a dark blue border edged on the outside with a gold rope and inscribed "USCGC MELLON" at top and "WHEC 717" at bottom in gold.
SHIELD
White, red and blue are the colors traditionally used by the United States Coast Guard. The gold disc, engraved with the head of Andrew Mellon, suggests a coin, highlighting his tenure as Secretary of the U.S. Treasury from 1921-1932. The interlaced frets symbolize the "Steel Web," a national security stratagem which USCGC Mellon plays a key part; to deny narcotics smugglers access to the United States via maritime routes and enforce U.S. Immigration laws. The palm commemorates the cutter's extensive service during the conflict in Vietnam. The flashes refer to the stripes on coast guard cutters and highlight the ship's Shipboard Command and Control System (SCCS), the most advanced electronic system in use in the Coast Guard.
CREST
The Steller's sea eagle, one of the largest and strongest of the sea eagles, reflects USCGC Mellon's classification as a large "High Endurance Cutter". He holds a lifeline in its beak to represent the cutter's Long Range Search and Rescue operations (SAR) through helicopter deployment.
SUPPORTERS
The USCGC Mellon was the first cutter in her class to fire the Harpoon missile. The stylized Northwestern Coastal Indian harpoons symbolize combat readiness and refer to the northern Pacific area waters the cutter patrols. .