Make America's Symbol Bright Again Restoring the Founders' Original Vision of the Great Seal As the United States celebrates its 250th anniversary, we have an historic opportunity to correct a longtime administrative error in our national symbol. This is not a proposal to redesign the Great Seal. It is a call to honor the exact law passed on June 20, 1782 by the Continental Congress who approved the design submitted by its longtime Secretary, Charles Thomson. It mandates specific and inspiring symbolism. In the crest above the eagle is a constellation of 13 stars surrounded by a radiant "glory" of light. Those rays of light should be golden and "breaking through a cloud." Modern Bureaucratic Error: Light is Blocked Official illustrations and dies of the Great Seal used by the Department of State depict a cloud completely surrounding, containing, and isolating the light whose rays are blocked by a cloud, including on documents signed by the President. 2026: Vision Requires Light. It's high time we restore light to the Great Seal, America's revolutionary vision statement. Let the golden light break through a cloud and extend over the American eagle, as the Founders clearly intended. The Historical Evidence Below is chronological proof of how the Founders intended the light to shine. 1782             1785 This is the only drawing of the Great Seal made by its designer, Charles Thomson. It shows how he envisioned the light breaking through a cloud surrounding the constellation of 13 stars. The first painting of the Eagle side was 3 years later. Both show the rays of light "breaking through a cloud," as Thomson specified in his written description of the Great Seal approved by Congress on the same day he submitted it: June 20, 1782. The bright rays of light symbolize what America experienced during its struggle for independence, what Charles Thomson described as "the many signal interpositions of providence in favor of the American cause." The light rays are called a Glory and should be golden colored. This important symbol was first suggested by Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, and Thomas Jefferson: the first Great Seal committee. Late on the afternoon of July 4, 1776, these esteemed authors of the Declaration of Independence were appointed "to bring in a device for a seal for the United States of America." Six weeks later, the official description of the design they submitted said: The Eye of Providence is in a "radiant Triangle whose Glory extends over the Shield and beyond the Figures." On the reverse side are "Rays from a Pillar of Fire in the Cloud." (Providence is a word favored by America's Founders.) Four symbolic elements of this first committee's design are in the final Great Seal: E Pluribus Unum • 1776 • Eye • Glory The Glory is the only symbol on both sides of the final Great Seal approved six years later in 1782. On the reverse side is an Eye in a triangle surrounded with a glory: in the zenith of a pyramid unfinished. "I am mortified beyond expression when I view the clouds which have spread over the brightest morn that ever dawned upon any Country." – George Washington (1786) 1792 Thomas Jefferson helped design this Diplomatic Medal of 1792 that also accurately shows light "breaking through a cloud" around the Constellation of 13 stars that Thomson said symbolizes "a new State taking its place and rank among other sovereign powers." President Thomas Jefferson's First Inaugural Address, 1801: "The essential principles of our government... form the bright constellation, which has gone before us and guided our steps through an age of revolution and reformation... Should we wander from them in moments of error or of alarm, let us hasten to retrace our steps, and to regain the road which alone leads to peace, liberty and safety." Dies and Realizations of the Great Seal Masi Treaty-Seal of 1825 In 1882, for the 100th anniversary of the Great Seal, the U.S. mint created the government's most accurate Great Seal: 1882 Centennial Medal Related Imagery Created This Century In the spring of 2001, Americana artist Doris Sjogren Rowe and John MacArthur worked together to create the United Seal of America: 2001 Light Unites the Two Sides of America In 2004, John commissioned and worked with wildlife artist Cy Hundley to create this first-ever realization of Charles Thomson's vision of the eagle side of the Great Seal – based on his written description and preliminary sketch (1782) of an "American Eagle on the wing & rising": 1782                               2004 GreatSeal.com contactjdmac@gmail.com