The story behind the PJ Angel of Mercy emblem

This is a brief story straight out from the designer of the Pararescue "Angel of Mercy" or also known as the "Guardian Angel" emblem.

Hello,

I created the modern Angel of Mercy logo in 2001 for use as a trademark on PARARESCUE.COM. I wanted to create something that was similar to the official Pararescue emblem but could also be worn by PJ’s, friends, family, and supporters alike without intruding on the sanctity and honor associated with the official emblem.

Early in 2002, the incoming Commander of the newly re-activated 58th Rescue Squadron asked for my permission to use the modern Angel of Mercy trademark in their new Squadron Patch. Of course, I was completely honored and granted an unrestricted license for the 58th RQS to use the logo as the central element of their emblem.

In 2008 I applied for the registered trademark status of the logo with the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office in Class 25 – Clothing to deter other companies, organizations, and individuals from using the mark for purposes other than what it was originally intended for. The registered trademark (USPTO Serial #77554920) was awarded to Military Shirts, Inc. and added to the Principal Register on June 20, 2010.

Over the past decade-plus, the modern Angel of Mercy trademark has seen widespread adoption across the entire Pararescue Community. I’m humbled, proud, and honored to have contributed to our history and culture in this small way.

I hereby publicly grant anyone that wants to use the modern Angel of Mercy trademark for any Pararescue related purposes an unrestricted use license for anything other than clothing items (the USPTO Class for which the trademark was registered) from Military Shirts, Inc. While we reserve all rights to our trademark in Class 25 – Clothing, we are often unaware of infringements and are not able to defend our trademark from counterfeiters in all cases. I would appreciate the assistance of the Pararescue Community in maintaining the integrity of the mark as a symbol of Pararescue.

If anyone would like to produce clothing items using the logo, I would appreciate it if you would consider supporting Military Shirts, Inc. and our mission to support veterans and military-related causes. We have a full catalog of customizable apparel items and offer screen printing, embroidery, direct-to-garment, and thermal transfer decorating services. Please call +1 (866) 685-0221, email info@militaryshirts.com, or visit www.militaryshirts.com for more information. 

Sincerely,

Rich Hillard
U.S. Air Force Pararescue
1993-1999