Norwich Class Ring

The Norwich Class Ring

The Norwich class ring is presented to the Junior Class members of the Corps at the Junior Ring Ceremony. The Norwich ring is the most prized of a cadet's worldly possessions, and much effort goes into earning the right to wear it.

The ring tradition at Norwich began in the spring of 1923, when the senior class adopted a class ring for each member of the class who would graduate in June. It was expected that each class would follow the precedent of the class of 1923. In time, the process of ring design and presentation shifted to the Junior year. However, it was not until the mid-1960s that a policy for standardization of the ring design was in place.

Accordingly, each class is permitted to design one side of the ring. The second side of the class ring, however, must conform to a University standard in the interest of maintaining a distinctive tradition.

The Norwich rings, like the service academy rings, feature a class crest on one side and the school crest on the other, with a bezel surrounding a stone or similar inset on top. Tradition dictates that the cadet wear the class crest facing him/her until graduation, when the ring is turned around so that the Norwich crest faces the wearer. This tradition links the wearer more closely to his/her class until graduation and to all the Norwich Corps graduates after graduation.

Norwich side, Norwich Class Ring

The Norwich Side

Cavalry Sabers: Flanking either side of the shield, they represent our kinship with Vermont's first cavalry. Today, cadet officers wear sabers in lieu of carrying rifles.
NUCC Scroll: Flowing on either side of the shield, the scroll distinguishes those who wear the ring as members of the Norwich University Corps of Cadets.
Norwich Shield: Depicts a cannon and an engineer's transit in the foreground of a mountain range, with the rays of the morning sun rising above it. The cannon represents the military heritage of the institution; an engineer's transit represents our academic mission. Finally, the rising sun over the Green Mountains represents the light of knowledge flowering on “The Hill.” The numerals 1819 hallmark the founding date of the University.
Eagle: Surmounted on the Norwich shield, symbolic of strength and courage in its depiction of both our school and as our national symbol.
Honor Scroll: Superimposed upon the talons of the eagle, it stands for the fundamental attributes of character. Honor is a virtue which impels loyalty and courage, truthfulness and self respect, justice and generosity. A cadet's honor is never in question if he or she is true in thought, word, and deed.
“I Will Try”: It was said to have been used as a rallying cry by a former president of the university, Truman Bishop Ransom, before his death as he charged a hill at the Battle of Chapultapec during the Mexican War. It conveys the spirit of the University and has been adopted as our motto: “I will try.”

The 2008 Class Crest

2008 Class Crest, Norwich Class Ring

Jackman Hall: As the most iconic building on campus, Jackman Hall plays an important role in a cadet’s daily life. The time of recognition, 2335, is displayed on the clock tower. The date of recognition, 31 March 2005, is displayed on the molding below in Roman numerals.
Rain & Lightning: Seemingly, it has rained during every culminating event for our class. It is commemorated on the ring to remind us of the road that brought us here and the storms we endured.
US Armed Service Sabers: The officer sabers of the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps remind us of Norwich, the birthplace of ROTC, and the cadets who earn a commission and honorably serve our country.
Eagle: The bald eagle, with its outstretched talons grasping its prey, represents our great nation and the zeal with which all cadets will undertake their future endeavors.
American Flag: Our nation’s colors serve as a backdrop, representing the liberty and justice we hold so dear, bearing eight stars for the year in which we will graduate. The flag waves in the background, reminding us that even though we may not see it every day, the stars and stripes of America are always in our hearts and minds.
Tunic: Symbolic of the uniform we wear daily, it represents the moral high ground Cadets choose by wearing it. This is what sets us apart from our civilian counterparts across the country.
Medal of Honor: In remembrance of Captain James M. Burt, USA ’39, the last living Norwich Medal of Honor recipient, who died 15 February 2006. It also signifies the courage, valor and selfless service exhibited by Cadets, specifically those who have received that distinction.
KIA Memorial: The helmet, positioned on an M-14 rifle and combat boots, honors those who have died in battle. The rifle is the model Cadets drill with at Norwich, reminding us of our graduates who have and will pay the ultimate price in defense of our country.
Roman Numeral XIV: At the commencement of our Rook year, the corps grew to fourteen companies for the first time in twelve years with the addition of Kilo, Artillery and Cavalry companies.
Mors Ante Infamia: “Death Before Dishonor”. Selected by the class, this motto represents the code of honor. One of the four cardinal virtues of a Norwich Cadet: courage, honor, temperance, wisdom. The ring embodies our honor code and binds those who wear it to forever exemplify Norwich men and women of honor, character and integrity.
Sword Pierced Heart: The three swords signify the long and arduous journey of Rookdom. In the beginning, we arrived not knowing what to expect, in the middle we endured trial by fire with the longest Rookdom in 30 years, and in the end, we were accepted into the ranks as Cadets.
MCV Gates: Erected to designate Norwich as the Military College of Vermont. The open gates welcome us back whether in spirit or actuality. The gates remind us of the paths taken by those who came before us.

The 2007 Class Crest

2007 Class Crest, Norwich Class Ring

Eagle: Bearing the weight of the mountains upon its wings, the eagle represents our nation in time of distress, waging the price of war not only overseas, but within its own boundaries.
American Flag: Serving as our background, the flag holds four stars. The emblem of liberty, each star upon the union represents a branch of the armed services, offered at our university, fighting to keep our colors free.
Dog River: Denoting a journey traveled, the river carries memories of the day we ran through it, but keeps moving along as to not lose focus on the reason for why we are here by looking back.
White Chapel: Fixed with our arrival date, the clock is stopped at 8:15. Embodying the spirit of the honor code, it was in the chapel where we learned to embrace the principles of an oath we chose to live by.
James Cannon: Representing our heritage, the cannon is placed upon the ring to remind us of the years of tradition that we have become a part of.
Moon: A symbol of guidance, it is the light that was shed upon us as we marched up Payne Mountain that led us to our recognition on that evening.
Rook Piece: The cornerstone place or foundation of our crest, it reminds us where we have come from.
Payne Mountain: Signifying the beginning and the end of our Rookdom, the mountains in the setting represent the ascent taken to become a cadet in the corps.
Centennial Stairs: A symbol of a rite of passage earned, each step carries a semester of training completed. It is six semesters in the Corps of Cadets that give us the right to wear the ring. It is these steps that represent a path of where great men have walked before us.
Cadet: Standing proud, the cadet renders honors to the men and women serving our country in a time of war, fighting for the freedoms we cherish. The cadet exemplifies what each of us are and what we aspire to be.
Date: Inscribed on the first step is our recognition date, 10 NOV 03.
MCV Gates: Marking the entrance to the Military College of Vermont on the day of our arrival as rooks, it is a reminder of how far we have come since then.