v ron ▁center . ▁Fe ature d ▁in ▁the ▁che v ron ▁are ▁art illery ▁shell s ▁and ▁a ▁revers ed ▁gold ▁start ▁with ▁a ▁l ion ▁center . ▁A ▁large ▁combined ▁anchor ▁with ▁a ▁tr ident ▁center ▁cover ▁the ▁shield . The ▁traditional ▁Navy ▁colors ▁were ▁chosen ▁for ▁the ▁shield ▁because ▁dark ▁blue ▁and ▁gold ▁represents ▁the ▁sea ▁and ▁excell ence ▁respectively . ▁The ▁combined ▁tr ident ▁and ▁anchor , ▁symbols ▁of ▁sea ▁pro w ess , ▁represent ▁our ▁naval ▁history ▁and ▁the ▁evol vement ▁of ▁modern ▁war fare ▁systems . ▁The ▁tr idents ▁three ▁t ines ▁denote ▁the ▁war fare ▁areas : ▁air , ▁surface , ▁and ▁under se a ▁war fare . ▁The ▁red ▁che v ron ▁with ▁art illery ▁shell s ▁represents ▁valor ▁and ▁sacrifice , ▁suggesting ▁the ▁troops ▁led ▁by ▁Colonel ▁Sh oup ▁crossing ▁the ▁re ef s ▁of ▁Bet io ▁and ▁bomb ard ment ▁of ▁enemy ▁fire . ▁The ▁red ▁l ion ▁exempl ifies ▁courage ▁and ▁strength ▁symbol izing ▁Colonel ▁Sh oup ’ s ▁British ▁Dist ingu ished ▁Service ▁Order ▁award ▁for ▁the ▁battle ▁at ▁Bet io . ▁The ▁revers ed ▁gold ▁star ▁refers ▁to ▁Colonel ▁Sh oup ’ s ▁Medal ▁of ▁Honor ▁awarded ▁for ▁his ▁hero ism ▁as ▁commander ▁of ▁the ▁Second ▁Marine ▁Division ▁at ▁Bet io ▁and ▁the ▁disput ed ▁island ▁of ▁Tar awa ▁At oll . ▁ ▁C rest ▁ ▁The ▁cr est ▁consists ▁of ▁the ▁Marine ▁Corps ▁em blem ▁surrounded ▁by ▁la ure ls . The ▁Marine ▁Corps ▁em blem ▁reflect s ▁Command