That for the regiments and separate battalions of the Michigan Army National Guard: From a wreath of colors, a griffin segreant Or.
In "LaSalle and the Discovery of the Great West," Parkman describes in Chapter XI et seq., the building of the "Griffin" in 1679 in the calm waters above Niagara Falls. La Salle built the ship to carry his expedition and supplies through the Great Lakes and carved a griffin for its figurehead. He did this in honor of his patron, Count Frontenac; the griffin was a portion of the count's armorial bearings. This was the first whiteman's ship to navigate the great waters which enclose and are enclosed by Michigan. It sailed through Lake Erie, up the Detroit River, past the site of the future city, through Lake St. Clair, up the St. Clair River, through Lake Huron; it stopped at the settlement at Michillimacinac (Macinac Island), visited St. Ignace, sailed into Green Bay and down into Lake Michigan.
The crest for color bearing organizations of the State of Michigan was approved on 9 August 1924.