Pueblo chieftain., 1921-05-01
MEDIEVAL EMBlEnS FOR THE ARMY

guagc is suggestive of customs or
articles of the chivalric days. The
stripes in our flag and shield. known as
pallets, refer to the pales or stakes
that the knights sometimes drove in
to the ground for purposes of defense
or az supports for canopics. The COM
mittee that planned our shield probably
got its idea of the stripes from tho
Washington coat-of-arms. Originally.
no doubt. the stripes came into use
thru some incident of. valor connected
with a pale, after which the knight
added stripe, or several. to his shield.
Creest. Tell storse.
gan to paint his history on his shield
besides carrying on II the device of his
house. And in time rules were de-
vcloped. The crest. for example. was
originally design Worn on the helmet
of commander in battle. The boar's
head, mailed fist. or other simple de-
sign cut out of metal, marked the
leader so that his followers could find
him in the fight and watch for his
signals. From this it came TO be de-
creed that only ono who had seen
service in battle could place a crest
above his shield.
Only certain ranks could drapc their
shields with mantling-thoso curly.
plume-likc flourishcs seen on many
coats Of arms. This mantlinC represent
cd the mantle worn by tho knight over
his armor. and II was shown in tat
tered strcsmcrs partly because the
sword hanging at the side generally
cut thru II in daily wear, but moro to
indicate that the knight had engaged
in bard. hand hand combat.
These rules and many others set
down long ago are strictly adhered to
in heraldry, and America has come in
Tor some criticism because occasional
~ families In this country have, either
in ignorance or defiance, broken the
hard and fast rules.
Tho army has Its own expert and
some hcraldic artists to assist IL in
following the requirements. Only the
shield. crest, and motto arc to be Of
ncially used on tho rcEimcnt8l color
and collar insignia Many of tho rcEi-
mcnts, however. are designing entire
crs devices at tho sides or back of
tho shicld) as well. The entire arms
can be used for decoration on tho wall
at the regimcntal post, for stationery.
and for other unofficial purposes.
The Third Infantry. the oldest rcEi-
mont OF our army, which dates from
1854. has developed it's arms to show
its early service in Mexico. One inter
csting device used by this regiment Us
n baton crossed with an old-timc bayo-
not back of tho shield The batom
which figures prominently in the regi-
mcnt5 history was made from the flag
staff OF the capitol OF the City of Mex
lea and was taken when tho city was
captured. II Is still one OF tho most
highly pjriscd possessions OF tho regi-
mont.
The F,fty-'rst Artillery, as a tractor
unit has a red shield with gold band
across 1T and on the band a green
caterpillar. This is one of the newer or
ganizations formed in 1917. Its simple
shield is in contrast with that of tho
First Engineers, organized in 1916. This
coat-of-arms tells story Of many
achievements. and ia a device that any
soldier might he proud to claim. True.
the outsider might not at once sec
In the feur- lila. the arms of Sois-
sons. where the regiment was honored.
But the regiment knows the story. and
tho symbol arouses interest in those
who do not People ask about it. and
the memory of the regiments victories
In kept green and no,irishinE