Kentucky National Guard Military Crest and Coat of Arms

Crest. Description: That for regiments and separate battalions of the Kentucky Army National Guard: From a wreath of colors, within a garland of trumpet vine clasped hands clothed at the wrists all Proper.

Symbolism: The trumpet vine is the State flower and the clasped hands are indicative of the motto of Kentucky, "United We Stand, Divided We Fall." 

Background: The crest was approved for the color bearing organizations of the State of Kentucky on 5 February 1924.

All Table of Organization and Equipment (TOE) regiments and TOE separate battalions are authorized a coat of arms for display on the organizational flag. The coat of arms consists of a shield displayed on the breast of the eagle on the organizational flag as shown in chapter 5, AR 840-10.

If the unit is active Army and has war/campaign service, a crest is also authorized. All reserve units have the same design (minuteman) and all National Guard units display the crest authorized for the state to which assigned.

In 1920 the Army officially adopted heraldic coats of arms. This originated the use of distinctive unit insignia to identify an individual soldier with his regiment. The purpose was to foster Army tradition and esprit de corps. The first unit to wear such an insignia was the 51st Artillery, Coast Artillery Corps, which received approval from the War Department on March 18, 1922.