EAGLE--BOND HALL
From Knob Knowledge
On the Great Seal of the United States, the Eagle is facing to the right (i.e., heraldic right or dexter--which is the viewer's left) toward the olive leaves, the symbol of peace; whereas the Bond Hall Eagle faces to the left (heraldic left or sinister--which is viewer's right) toward the arrows, the symbol of war. One reason for this may be that The Citadel is a military college, training cadets to be soldiers.
Another reason could be the legend of the Bond Hall Eagle. It says that the Eagle originally was facing toward Lesesne Gate, i.e., toward the olive leaves. One day, a virgin walked through the gate and headed for the barracks. As she walked, the Eagle turned its head and followed her with its eyes. The eagle is still waiting for a virgin to come out of the barracks. If she comes out, and exits the campus through Lesesne Gate, it may turn its head the other way again.
Why is the Eagle painted gold? It was unpainted originally, being the color of concrete. In the 1950s, however, some cadets snuck up on the roof of Bond Hall and painted the eagle pink or some other color. The Physical Plant could not get the paint off, so General Clark decided to have it painted gold. It has remained that way except for an instance in the early 1970s when it was again pink for a day or so. It is made of stucco and plaster of Paris. It weighs four hundred pounds. It is four feet by four feet. (Source: Information furnished by Lt. Col. Nath by Col. David S. McAlister, Dean of Cadet Affairs, in 1980) (HN)
