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216TH AIR DEFENSE ARTILLERY REGIMENT
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Distinctive Unit Insignia

Distinctive Unit Insignia

Description
A Gold color metal and enamel device 1 1/8 inches (2.86 cm) in width overall consisting of a shield blazoned :  Azure, on a fess Sanguine fimbriated Or a gopher sejant of the third, in chief a five-pointed mullet of the last.  Attached below the shield is a Yellow scroll inscribed FOR STATE AND COUNTRY in Black.

Symbolism
The device selected has been taken from the State traditions.  Blue alludes to the State flag.  The shield of the 206th Minnesota Infantry is accordingly made blue, which is also the Infantry color.  The star and gopher suggest the State; the star being taken from the coat of arms of the State and also alluding to the State motto (LEtoile du Nord the North Star) while its generally accepted popular name or nickname is the Gopher State.  The colors of the fess suggest the State colors, maroon and gold.

Background
The distinctive unit insignia was originally approved for the 206th Infantry Regiment on 27 November 1925.  It was redesignated for the 256th Antiaircraft Artillery Automatic Weapons Battalion on 18 November 1952.  The insignia was redesignated for the 216th Air Defense Artillery Regiment on 24 February 1998.




Coat of Arms

Coat of Arms

Blazon

Shield

Azure, on a fess Sanguine fimbriated Or a gopher sejant of the third, in chief a five-pointed mullet of the last.

Crest

That for the regiments and separate battalions of the Minnesota Army National Guard:  From a wreath Or and Azure, a sheaf of wheat Proper.

Motto

FOR STATE AND COUNTRY.

Symbolism

Shield

The device selected has been taken from the State traditions.  Blue alludes to the State flag.  The shield of the 206th Minnesota Infantry is accordingly made blue, which is also the Infantry color.  The star and gopher suggest the State; the star being taken from the coat of arms of the State and also alluding to the State motto (LEtoile du Nord the North Star) while its generally accepted popular name or nickname is the Gopher State.  The colors of the fess suggest the State colors, maroon and gold.

Crest

The crest is that of the Minnesota Army National Guard.

Background
The coat of arms was originally approved for the 206th Infantry Regiment on 27 November 1925.  It was redesignated for the 256th Antiaircraft Artillery Automatic Weapons Battalion on 18 November 1952.  The insignia was redesignated for the 216th Air Defense Artillery Regiment on 24 February 1998.  It was amended to correct the blazon of the crest on 25 March 1998.





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