218th Field Artillery Regimental Coat of Arms (COA):
Blazon:
Shield: Gules, on a
fess wavy Or, between in chief three bezants, the dexter charged
with a barred arrow, the sinister with a fleur-de-lis both of the
first, and the middle with a lion rampant Sable langued of the
first, and in base a pale wavy of the second, a heraldic rose of the
field garnished Gold.
Crest: That for the regiments and separate battalions of the
Oregon National Guard: On a wreath of the colors (Or and Gules) a
demi-disc Gules charged with the setting sun with twelve light rays
Or (the shoulder sleeve insignia of the 41st Division), behind a
beaver sejant Proper.
Symbolism:
Shield: The colors red
and yellow are used for Artillery. The barred arrow (the insignia
for the 32nd Division) is used to represent combat service during
World War I and appears on the coat of arms of the 147th Field
Artillery Regiment, with which the unit (as then organized) was
serving. The fleur-de-lis symbolizes combat service in France and
Central Europe during World War II. The lion rampant refers to the
Battle of the Bulge for which the battalion was awarded the
Distinguished Unit Citation. The wavy fess and pale are used to
indicate the juncture of the Willamette and Columbia Rivers. The
rose alludes to Portland (the "Rose City"), the home area of the
unit.
Crest: The crest is that of the Oregon Army National Guard.
Background: The coat of arms was originally approved for the
965th Field Artillery Battalion, Oregon National Guard on 28
February 1955. It was redesignated for the 218th Artillery, Oregon
National Guard on 7 June 1960. It was amended to correct the motto
on 7 April 1969. The insignia was redesignated for the 218th Field
Artillery on 24 July 1972. It was amended to correct the blazon of
the shield on 23 October 2002.
Thanks to The Institute of Heraldry, Dept of the Army http://www.tioh.hqda.pentagon.mil/