The winged sun-wheel represents the Birds of Paradise of New Guinea, which were once believed to spend their lives encircling the sun, coming to earth only when they died. The honors gained in the Southern Philippines and the Philippine Presidential Unit Citation are represented by the use of the Philippine sun symbol at the center of the sun-wheel. The feathered staffs represent the warriors of New Guinea. On the band at the base of the staffs, is a frieze of New Guinea prayer houses with mountains behind them, symbolizing the lands of New Guinea and the Philippine and recalling also Mount Hood in Oregon, where the 234th Army Band has its home station in Portland. The name, 234th Army band, appears four times around the perimeter of the mace, separated by two arrowheads and two cacao beans alternating around the frieze, referring to the honors awarded for services in New Guinea and Southern Philippines.