What is the significance of “3-7-77” on the Montana State Police shield?
THE RUMORS ARE RAMPANT. THE EXACTNESS OF A 3-7-77 IS TRACED TO THE VIGILANTES WHO RODE HOARD ON MONTANA IN THE 1860-80’S AND SAID THEY WERE A LAW ABIDING GROUP MEANT TO UPHOLD THE LAW. DURING THAT TIME NUMEROUS INCIDENTS TOO PLACE AND AS MANY AS 60 VIGILANTES TOOK HOARD TO RIDE IN THE NAME SAKE OF MONTANA. THEY ALWAYS LEFT A BRAND THOUGH NEVER UNDERSTOOD WHY OF 3-7-77. IN 1956, SUPERINTENDENT ALEX STEPHENSON DESIGNED AS A TRIBUTE TO LAW AND ORDER THE CURRENT AND STILL COLLECTIBLE BADGE OF MONTANA HIGHWAY PATROL WITH THE 3-7-77 AS A WARNING TO ALL WHO ENTERED MONTANA. I WOULD ASSOCIATED THIS GESTURE WITH THE SAME ACCORD THE 1ST CAV HAS ALWAYS MAINTAINED THE BLACK MARK LINE OF COWARDICE ON ITS PATCH AS A PART OF IT’S PAST AND GLORIOUS HISTORY.
