197th Field Artillery Brigade, New Hampshire Army National Guard
197TH FIELD ARTILLERY BRIGADE, NEW HAMPSHIRE ARMY NATIONAL GUARD
 (Shoulder Sleeve Insignia) |
 (Distinctive Unit Insignia) |
Official blazon
Shoulder Sleeve Insignia, Description:On a red rectangle 3 inches (7.62cm) in height and 2 inches (5.08cm) in width overall arched at top and bottom, a bundle of five yellow arrows, points up, tied with a yellow ribbon all within a 1/8 inch (.32cm) yellow border.
Distinctive Unit Insignia, Description: A gold color metal and enamel device 1 1/8 inches (2.86cm) in height overall consisting of a gold Philippine demi-sun with fleurs-de-lis as the large oblique rays and a white enamel seven-pointed star on the face, all above and overlapping a blue enamel annulet bearing eight five-pointed gold stars and within it a disc divided saltirewise blue and gold bearing a saltire throughout counterchanged, all below a gold scroll arced from the edge of the annulet and inscribed "LIVE FREE OR DIE" in scarlet letters; all background areas enclosed by the scroll are of scarlet enamel.
Origin/meaning
Shoulder Sleeve Insignia: Red and yellow are the colors traditionally used for Field Artillery. The tied bundle of five arrows adopted from the New Hampshire State crest refers to the unit's home location and symbolizes the mission as well. A bundle of arrows was one of the first missiles used in an artillery mission.
Distinctive Unit Insignia: Scarlet and yellow are the colors used for Artillery. The quadrant, an early artillery aiming device, is suggested by the four quadrants formed by the saltire. The nine stars suggested by the State flag of New Hampshire, denote the home of the organization and further represent the unit's participation in nine campaigns during the Civil War. The fleurs-de-lis denote the unit's service in Europe during World War I and II. The Luzon campaign is symbolized by the Philippine demi-sun. The colors blue, white and red denote the Philippine Presidential Unit Citation. The New Guinea campaign is represented by the seven-pointed star suggested by the flag of Australia, alluding to the Island's former relationship with Australia.
The Shoulder Sleeve Insignia was approved on 23 January 1979. The Distinctive Unit Insignia was originally approved for the 197th Artillery Group on 9 August 1971. It was redesignated for the 197th Field Artillery Group on 30 May 1972. The insignia was redesignated and the symbolism amended for the 197th Field Artillery Brigade on 14 December 1979.
Literature: Images from Wikimedia Commons. Information from The Institute of Heraldry, US Army
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