224th Aviation Regiment, Maryland and Virginia Army National Guards

(Coat of Arms)	(Distinctive Unit Insignia)	224TH AVIATION REGIMENT, MARYLAND AND VIRGINIA ARMY NATIONAL GUARDS Country: United States

Official blazon
English	Shield: Quarterly Azure and Tenné (Golden Orange) a winged horse volant Argent. Crest: That for the regiments and separate battalions of the Maryland and Virginia Army National Guard placed from dexter to sinister in the order in which the States were admitted to the Union: MARYLAND: On a wreath of the colors (Argent and Azure), a cross bottony per cross quarterly Gules and Argent. VIRGINIA: On a wreath of the colors (Argent and Azure), "Virtus the genius of the Commonwealth dressed as an Amazon, resting on a spear with one hand and holding a sword in the other; and treading on Tyranny, represented by a man prostrate, a crown falling from his head, a broken chain in his left hand and a scourge in his right" all Proper. Motto: FREE DOMINION. Distinctive Unit Insignia. Description: A Silver color and metal enamel device 1 1/8 inches (2.86 cm) in height overall consisting of a shield blazoned:Quarterly Azure and Tenné (Golden Orange) a winged horse volant Argent. Superimposed over the base of the shield, a Blue scroll inscribed "FREE DOMINION" in Silver.

Origin/meaning

Ultramarine blue and golden orange are the colors associated with Aviation. The quartering of the shield is an allusion to the Crossland Arms traditionally used by Maryland. The winged horse symbolizes flight, freedom and high ideals. The motto is adapted from the nicknames of Maryland, "The Free State," and Virginia, "The Old Dominion," and refers to the units located in those states.

The Coat of Arms and Distinctive Unit Insginia was approved effective 1 October 1987.

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

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