The coat of arms is divided in three sections by a vertical line and an upside down “V”.The base of it stands for a sailboat over the sea waves. The two upper sections show off tools related to Belize’s wood industry: an oar and an axe on the right section, and a square and another axe on the left side.Two woodcutters support the coat of arms. The one on the right side has an axe resting on his shoulder, while the woodcutter on the left holds an oar on his shoulder, too.Above the coat of arms a mahogany tree grows, while a scroll below has the slogan etched in it. A group of circles engulf the whole model.
1. O, Land of the Free by the Carib Sea,Our manhood we pledge to thy liberty!No tyrants here linger, despots must fleeThis tranquil haven of democracy.The blood of our sires, which hallows the sod,Brought freedom from slav'ry, oppression's rod,By the might of truth and the grace of God.No longer shall we be hewers of wood.
2. Arise ye sons of the Baymen's clan!Put on your armour, clear the land!Drive back the tyrants, let despots flee!Land of the Free by the Carib Sea!
3. Nature has blessed thee with wealth untold,O'er mountains and valleys where prairies roll;Our fathers, the Baymen, valiant and boldDrove back th'invader, this heritage boldFrom proud Rio Hondo to old Sarstoon,Through coral isle, over blue lagoon,Keep watch with the angels, the stars and moon.For freedom comes tomorrow's noon.
The black orchid (Encyclia Cochleatum) is Belize’s national flower. It grows off tree trunks in moist areas and blooms in the four seasons.Its size varies from six inches long on. Black orchids have yellow-greenish petals with purple spot near the center. The lip –a special kind of petal hardly ever seen in the flower- takes after the mouth of a mussel (that similarity suggested the name Encyclia Cochleatum) and deep down inside sports brown and white spots.
Mahogany (Swietenia Macrophilla) is one of the plentiful and giant trees growing in this country. Its trunk grows straight up and tall over 100 feet high from the top all the way down to the roots. It juts clearly out of the other surrounding trees. The mahogany is seen in Belize’s coat of arms. The slogan reading in Latin Sub Umbra Florero means: “Under the shade (of the mahogany tree) I flourish.” This tree never blooms before it’s 60 to 80 years old.British businessmen and salesmen tapped into mahogany forests in the early 17th Century. Mahogany wood used to be exported to England sliced off in square planks.
Tapir or “mountain cow” (Tapirello Bairdii) is the largest ground mammal in all the American tropical area. This husky, short-legged animal grows as tall as a donkey and weighs up to 600lb. By and large, its skin is dark brown with white hairy manes around the eye rims. Some species sport white spots on the chest and round the neck.Tapirs are not cows, despite the local name. It’s indeed closer to the horse and the rhinoceros.It’s a vegetarian mammal that spends most of the time immersed in water or mud. That makes him a pretty strong swimmer.Belize’s laws protect the national animal and ban poaching.
