Introducing project “Military Insignia”, featuring top quality military heraldry designs. Here you will find designer apparel, accessories, custom postage and gifts decorated with insignia of the 1 Air Defense Artillery Regiment. It was Constituted 1 June 1821 in the Regular Army as the 1st Regiment of Artillery, and organized from existing units with Headquarters at Fort Independence (Massachusetts). 1st Air Defense Artillery withdrawn 16 June 1987 from the Combat Arms Regimental System and reorganized under the United States Army Regimental System. The coat of arms was originally approved for the 1st Coast Artillery Regiment on 5 October 1925. It was redesignated for the 1st Antiaircraft Artillery Missile Battalion on 27 September 1955. It was cancelled on 21 April 1959. The insignia was restored and authorized for the 1st Air Defense Artillery Regiment effective 1 September 1971. Shield The shield is scarlet for Artillery. With the two white stripes, alluding to the campaign streamer of the War of 1812, the age of some of the units of the regiments is depicted. The snake and cactus, from the State Seal of Mexico, represent the Mexican War. The hand holding the torch of loyalty commemorates the defense of Fort Pickens, the only fort south of Fort Monroe which remained loyal to the Federal Government throughout the Civil War. Crest The arms and rammer staff rising out of a tower in front of a palmetto tree indicates participation in the Civil War at Fort Sumter. The palmetto tree is taken from the State Seal of South Carolina.