28th Signal Battalion, Pennsylvania Army National Guard

28TH SIGNAL BATTALION, PENNSYLVANIA ARMY NATIONAL GUARD

(Coat of Arms)

(Distinctive Unit Insignia)

Official blazon

Shield: Per bend Or and Gules a bend wavy per bend Azure and of the first, in base on a slip of grapevine point to base of the last a Cross of Lorraine of the third and in chief a lion rampant of the second armed and langued of the third sustaining a lightning flash Azure.
Crest: That for the regiments and separate battalions of the Pennsylvania Army National Guard: On a wreath of the colors Or and Gules a lion rampant guardant Proper, holding in dexter paw a naked scimitar Argent hilted Or and in sinister an escutcheon Argent on the fess Sable three plates.
Motto: COMMUNICATE.

Distinctive Unit Insignia. Description: A gold color metal and enamel device 1 1/4 inches (3.18cm) in height consisting of a blue enamel Cross of Lorraine surmounted by a gold color metal grape leaf charged with a red enamel lion rampant sustaining a blue enamel lightning flash. Attached below the Cross of Lorraine a gold color metal scroll inscribed "COMMUNICATE" in blue enamel letters.

Origin/meaning

The unit's participation in Champagne and Lorraine campaigns of World War I is symbolized by the grape leaf and cross on the red field. The wavy bend of blue and gold alludes to the Rhineland Campaign of World War II and the upper field of gold, symbolic of special achievement, denotes the award of the Meritorious Unit Commendation for service in the European Theater. The red lion is adapted from the arms of Luxembourg and represents award of the Luxembourg Croix de Guerre. The blue flash identifies the Battalion's communications function.

The arms were approved on 25 Aug 1967, and the Distinctive Unit Insignia on 29 November 1967.

Literature: Images from Wikimedia Commons. Information from The Institute of Heraldry, US Army.