U.S. Army / U.S. Army Heraldry / Unit Insignia / Distinctive Unit Insignia, Shoulder Sleeve Insignia, Coat of Arms / Infantry / 81 Infantry Brigade /

81ST INFANTRY BRIGADE
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Shoulder Sleeve Insignia


Description/Blazon
On a white square with rounded corners 2 1/4 inches (5.72cm) overall the Pacific Northwest Indian (Haida, Kwakiutl, Nootka) symbol of a raven in black, red and white all within a 1/8 inch (.32cm) red border.

Symbolism
The raven represents the fact that all units of this Brigade derive their history and background as Washington State units. The family crest of George Washington, a raven on a gold cornet, has been traditionally used to form the crest of Washington State unit insignia. The raven design is a combination of three Northwest Indian tribe designs of the raven. The head portion comes from the "Haida" Indians. The lower portion has been taken from the "Kwakiutl" Indians. The beak, eyes and mouth have been taken from the "Nootka" Indians. Most emphasis has been placed on the "Nootka" Indians as they lived on the Washington coast and the Olympic Penninsula. Both of the other tribes represented lived, for the most part, on the lower British Columbia coast and in the vicinity of Vancouver Island. The raven is one of the most common of Northwest Indian designs, but it represents one of the most unique types of design and is found only in the Pacific Northwest. The raven is considered to be of particularly good power in the legends of the Northwest Indian tribes. According to the legends this bird went into the supernatural world while the earth was still in darkness and the people could not see. The raven took the sun and escaped through a hole in the roof of the house of the "supernaturals" while they slept. Because the raven had to fly through the smoke to get out of the house, it discolored him black. While flying back to earth, with the supernaturals in chase, the parts of the sun were broken off forming the stars with the last and largest piece forming the moon. The raven then threw the sun into the sky where it gave off light and heat to the earth. The raven saved the Indians from their darkness and gave them light and a new life. The use of rectangles and squares is based on the extensive use of such shapes in Indian designs and carvings. Corners were usually rounded to tie the rectangle into the total design.

Background
The shoulder sleeve insignia was approved on 27 May 1970.




Distinctive Unit Insignia


Description/Blazon
A gold color metal and enamel device 1 1/8 inches (2.86cm) in height overall consisting of a gold sun with ten alternating straight pointed and pediment pointed rays and surmounted in base by an arrowhead, point up, with eight alternating blue and white wavy bands, the lower points coinciding with the lower three rays of the sun and all in front of and above a continuous doubled scroll, the upper reverse portion red and the obverse lower portion blue bearing the inscription "Washington Rifles" in gold letters.

Symbolism
Blue is the color used for Infantry. The dual nature of the pointed and pediment pointed rays, the former taken from the demi-sun of the shoulder sleeve insignia of the 41st Division, and the latter from the Philippine sun, symbolizes the organization's service in France in World War I, in the Philippines and in the Pacific are in World War II. The arrowhead with the white and blue wavy band, simulating water, commemorates the assault landing at Luzon. The colors, blue, white and red refer to the Philippine Presidential Unit Citation awarded during that period.

Background
The distinctive unit insignia was approved on 1 Jun 1970.





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