Ceremony introduces new VNG HQs shoulder patch
The Virginia National Guard introduced a new shoulder patch for the Joint Force Headquarters during a ceremony Sept. 30, 2021, at Sergeant Bob Slaughter Headquarters at Defense Supply Center Richmond, Virginia. The new insignia was authorized Sept. 21 by the Department of the Army Institute of Heraldry and has been revised to remove colors and design elements referring to the Confederacy.
“This new insignia is a better representation of VNG history with colors linked to the Continental Army and our nation’s fight for independence during the Revolutionary War,” explained Maj. Gen. Timothy P. Williams, the Adjutant General of Virginia. “The Virginia state crest dating back to 1776 is a key element of the design, and the crest has been featured on Virginia National Guard regimental unit colors since World War I.
”Williams and Command Sgt. Maj. Ronald Smith, the VaARNG command sergeant major, presented the patch to approximately 50 Soldiers during the ceremony. Additional patches will be ordered and distributed to unit supply rooms in the coming months, and it should be available in about a year.