Oh, the symbolism of this statue.
A sitting male figure expressing Guardianship— not aggressive, but watchful, according to written analysis of it. In one hand, he holds the Helmet of Protection. In the other, a sheathed sword and a fasces, a Roman symbol of authority used here to signify unified government. Engraved in the rock of the statue’s base are these words: “Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty.”
The quote is originally attributed to Thomas Jefferson, though abolitionist and orator Wendell Phillips said it in a famous speech to the Massachusetts Antislavery Society in 1852. Regardless of their origins, the words have become a nationalistic axiom for our nation.
The statue in question rests on the Constitution Avenue side of the National Archives building in Washington, D.C., the home of Fugazi. Such grandiose sentiments are inscribed on buildings, monuments and statues throughout the city, but this particular grandiose sentiment offers powerful veracity, one that exemplifies the spirit of the city’s most famous band. Because taken metaphorically, it provides a salvo against complacency, a reminder of the dangers of apathy: To be great, you must constantly challenge yourself.
The four members of Fugazi would probably agree, with one caveat: Challenging yourself isn’t part of being great; it’s part of being.