Abstract: A personalized heraldic shield is constructed by accessing a computer which stores and assembles heraldic emblems and figures into a coat-of-arms, inputting a selected family name, retrieving and transferring the coat-of-arms corresponding to the family name to a printer, printing the coat-of-arms onto an adhesive backed substrate, and adhering the substrate to a base. A cover is then adhered over the substrate-bearing coat-of-arms, and edging is applied around the perimeter of the shield. The base itself is of a laminate construction and includes a rigid, high strength forwardly facing wall and a layer of relatively soft foam adhered to the back surface of the wall. Handles are provided to enable the shield to be held on one arm across the front of one's torso.