Description353RegtCOA.jpg	353rd Regiment (Training)
Date	27 May 1924
Source	US Army Institute of Heraldry
Author	US Army
Permission (Reusing this file)	Public domainPublic domainfalsefalse This image shows a flag, a coat of arms, a seal or some other official insignia produced by the United States Army Institute of Heraldry. It is in the public domain but its use is restricted by Title 18, United States Code, Section 704 [1] and the Code of Federal Regulations (32 CFR, Part 507) [2], [3]. Permission to use these images in the USA for most commercial purposes must be obtained from The Institute of Heraldry prior to their use. Deutsch ∙ English ∙ فارسی ∙ 日本語 ∙ русский ∙ +/− - US Army Institute of Heraldry

Blazon

• Shield: Azure, in dexter chief a Lorraine Cross Gules fimbriated Argent, and in sinister base a sunflower slipped Proper.

• Crest: From a wreath Argent and Azure between two swords pilewise of the first (Silver Gray) gripped Gules superimposed in base by the embattlements of a tower of the first (Silver Gray), a lion rampant Or charged on the shoulder with an escutcheon Vert, seven barrulets of the third, a palm frond bend sinisterwise of the fourth.

• Motto: TO THE STARS THROUGH DIFFICULTIES.

Symbolism

• Shield:

1. The shield is blue for Infantry.
2. The cross of Lorraine in red is emblematic of service in the St. Mihiel and the Meuse-Argonne offensives both in Lorraine.
3. The sunflower refers to Kansas, the home of practically all of the original enlisted personnel.
4. While at Camp Funston, the 353rd received a great deal of publicity as “The All Kansas Regiment,” in the 89th Division.
5. The motto is the motto of the State of Kansas rendered in English.

• Crest:

1. The lion represents courage and strength, its gold color is emblematic of excellence and high ideals.
2. The shield on the lion with its configuration and colors with the palm frond represents and commemorates the unit’s decoration and honor of the French Croix de Guerre with Palm for World War I.
3. The two swords highlight the two World Wars in which the unit has earned campaign credits.
4. The tower embattlements signify defense and refer to the castles of Europe, area of operation of the Regiment in World War I and World War II.

Background

1. The coat of arms was originally approved for the 353rd Infantry Regiment, Organized Reserves on 1924-05-27.
2. It was amended to correct the wording of the blazonry of the shield on 1924-12-10.
3. It was again amended to correct the wording of the blazonry of the shield on 1926-08-28.
4. The insignia was redesignated for the 353rd Regiment (Training), Army Reserve on 1962-01-29.
5. The insignia was amended to delete the Reserve crest and add a new crest on 2008-10-27.