Adapted from the crest of the Michigan Army National Guard, the Michigan ARNG Element, JFHQ patch features a griffin segreant (the heraldic equivalent of rampant when the creature is a dragon or griffin), standing on a twisted wreath of yellow and blue that indicate the original explorers and settlers in the state were French.
While the griffin is an heraldic symbol of readiness and vigilance, its use is far more closely linked to René-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle, the French explorer whose expeditions took him throughout much of the Midwest of America. In 1679, La Salle built a ship to haul men and equipment through the Great Lakes and chose a griffin for the figurehead on its prow and Griffin as its name to honor his funder, Count Frontenac, whose armorial bearing included a griffin.
The Solider Sleeve Insignia (unit patch) worn by Michigan Army National Guard (ARNG) personnel serving at the Joint Force Headquarters (HQ) of the state’s National Guard was originally approve HQ and HQ Detachment, Michigan National Guard on 7 March 1949. It was subsequently redesignated for HQ, State Area Command, Michigan ARNG on 30 December 1983. When it was given its current designation as Michigan ARNG Element, Joint Force HQ on 1 October 2003, it was concurrently amended to update the description and add a symbolism.
Related Items
Michigan ARNG Element, Joint Force HQ Unit Crest (DUI)