The sun, composed of four straight and four wavy alternating rays, is the symbol of Helios who, as God of the Sun, could see and hear everything. The four straight rays of the sun symbol also allude to the four points of the compass and the worldwide mission of the Military Intelligence Branch. The placement of the sun symbol beneath the rose (an ancient symbol of secrecy) refers to the operations and activities being conducted under circumstances forbidding disclosure.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Echelon_%28signals_intelligence%29
http://wiki.echelon2.org/wiki/Main_Page
Heraldic Rose
The rose signifies
primarily
the maternal creative mystery. It represents spiritual
unfoldment and attainment.
From
the earliest times, the rose was associated with love; in
Greek mythology, the red rose was symbolic
of love which transcended death. In the Middle Ages, the
red rose stood for the blood shed by Jesus on the Cross and
therefore represented God's love for mankind. The rose as the 'queen of flowers' was also
associated with the Virgin Mary.
http://wiki.echelon2.org/wiki/Guide_to_Pursuants