116th Infantry Regiment ( United States ) The 116th infantry Regiment is an Infantry regiment in the Virginia Army National Guard . Lineage . Organized 3 November 1741 in the Virginia Militia as the Augusta County Regiment with headquarters at Beverley ' s Mill Place ( later named Staunton ) . Elements of the Augusta County Regiment called into active service at various times during the French and Indian War and Dunmore ' s War and provided the following elements of the Virginia provincial forces : Augusta County Regiment expanded 31 December 1792 to form the 32d and 93d Regiments Elements of the 32d and 93d Regiments mustered into federal service at various times during the War of 1812 Elements of the 32d and 160th Regiments mustered into federal service 6 January 1847 at Richmond as the Light Infantry Company , 1st Regiment , Virginia Volunteers ( also known as the Augusta Volunteers ) ; mustered out of federal service 27 July 1848 at Fort Monroe , Virginia consolidated unit reorganized and redesignated as the 116th Infantry and assigned to the 29th Infantry Division ( United States ) Annex . Organized 13 June 1881 in the Virginia Volunteers from existing companies in central Virginia as the 3rd Regiment of Infantry with Headquarters at Charlottesville ( Location of Headquarters changed 15 November 1888 to Culpepper ; on 12 March 1898 to Warrenton ) A Gold color metal and enamel device 1 3 / 16 inches ( 3 . 02 cm ) in height overall consisting of a shield blazoned : Gules , a saltire Argent voided throughout per saltire Gray and Azure per cross counterchanged , in chief a fleur - de - lis Or . Attached below and to the sides of the shield a Gold bipartite scroll inscribed “ EVER ” to dexter and “ FORWARD ” to sinister in Black letters . This regiment has the unique distinction of being composed of elements which served in the United States service in the Confederate service and again the federal service and also the units have worn both blue and gray in both the federal and Confederate service . The tradition of Artillery is also in the Regiment . The shield is red with the familiar saltire cross , blue and gray edged with white . The gold fleur - de - lis recalls the service of the Regiment in France during World War I . The distinctive unit insignia was approved on 31 March 1925 . Gules , a saltire Argent voided throughout per saltire Gray and Azure per cross counterchanged , in chief a fleur - de - lis Or . That for the regiments and separate battalions of the Virginia Army National Guard : On a wreath of the colors Argent and Gules “ 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 : EVER FORWARD . This regiment has the unique distinction of being composed of elements which served in the United States service in the Confederate service and again the federal service and also the units have worn both blue and gray in both the Federal and Confederate service . The tradition of Artillery is also in the regiment . The shield is red with the familiar saltire cross , blue and gray edged with white . The gold fleur - de - lis recalls the service of the regiment in France during World War I . The crest is that of the Virginia Army National Guard . Coat of arms . Background . The coat of arms was approved on 19 April 1924 . Campaign streamers . Revolutionary War War of 1812 Civil War ( Confederate service ) World War I World War II Headquarters Company ( Lynchburg Home Guard ) , 2d Battalion , additionally entitled to : Civil War ( Confederate service ) World War I Company A ( Monticello Guard , Charlottesville ) and Support Company ( Farmville Guard ) , 2d Battalion , each additionally entitled to : Civil War ( Confederate service ) Companies A and B ( Alexandria Light Infantry , Manassas ) , 3d Battalion , each additionally entitled to : Civil War ( Confederate service ) Headquarters Company ( Roanoke ) and Company A ( Bedford ) , 1st Battalion , and Headquarters Company ( Lynchburg Home Guard ) , 2d Battalion , each additionally entitled to :