The black shield with three gold helmets is the traditional coat of arms of the O'Kennedy of the Ormonde. The red and white borders are the colors of Fitzgerald of Desmond. The crest of the coat of arms is a mailed forearm, holding a sheaf of arrows and framed by olive branches, symbolizing power and peace, as do the eagle's claws in the Presidential Seal. The bottlenose dolphins holding the banner at the bottom are traditional symbols of the sea and seaman. They represent our freedom to roam the seas, freedom essential to progress in the world community.
Dolphins are friends of man, but deadly enemies of aggressors and attack only when provoked.
The shamrock-shaped banner symbolizes good luck, President Kennedy's Irish ancestry, and our ties with Ireland. Written on the banner in Latin is the ship's motto, Date Nolite Rogare, which means Give, be unwilling to ask. The wings are symbols not only of Kennedy's air power, but also of progress and the freedom to roam the skies. Stars representing the 50 states surround the shield.