Oozlefinch facts for kids
The Oozlefinch is a famous unofficial mascot. It represents the Air Defense Artillery and, in the past, the U.S. Army Coast Artillery Corps. The Oozlefinch is often shown as a bird without feathers. It flies backwards at super fast speeds. This unique bird often carries weapons used by the Air Defense and Coast Artillery, like a Nike-Hercules Missile. Over time, the Oozlefinch has appeared in many different drawings and artworks.
History of the Oozlefinch
There are many fun stories about how the Oozlefinch legend began. Most people agree that the story started in 1905. This was at Ft. Monroe, Virginia. At that time, Fort Monroe was home to the Coast Artillery Corps.
Captain H. M. Merriam was the first to report seeing this strange bird. He said it had big eyes and struggled to fly. He saw it outside the officers' club. Soon, more people claimed they saw the bird too. They even made sketches of it. The legend of the Oozlefinch grew so much. Eventually, a statue was put up at the club to honor it.
The Oozlefinch was also used as a symbol during World War I. It appeared on the badges of the Railway Artillery Reserve. Some people even thought it looked like a pelican. Later, the 42nd Field Artillery Brigade used the Oozlefinch on their special unit symbol. They described it as a green Oozlefinch. It was shown with weapons and a collar. This design came from the Railway Artillery Reserve's patch in France.
What the Oozlefinch Symbolizes
The Oozlefinch has very large eyes. These eyes help it see far away and clearly in the sky. It has no eyelids or eyebrows, so its vision is always clear. People say its eyes can turn all the way around. This means the Oozlefinch can look inward. This symbolizes that good leaders should think about themselves and reflect.
Images for kids
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These are two Oozlefinch statues from around 1951. Colonel John R. M. Covert made them near the Coast Artillery Headquarters in Fortress Monroe, Virginia.
