A cavalry horseshoe or heels upward, with crease, saber and seven
nail heads, white. Above and joining the heels of the shoe, a scroll, azure,
bearing the word, “GARRYOWEN” or.
At the base and emerging from sinister side of the shoe, a dexter arm embowed,
vested azure, the hand in the buckskin gauntlet, proper, grasping an old
style U.S. Army saber, or hilted, or blade extending to center or scroll
gripe, saber threaded or.
Explanation of Design
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The horseshoe is symbolic of the Cavalry. Its color, gold (yellow
in heraldic tincture), is the color of the old uniform facings of the United
States Cavalry, in existence when the Regiment was organized and is still
remained as the color of the Cavalry Arm.
The word, “GARRYOWEN,” is the title of an old Irish (sic) war
song known and used as the Regimental song since the days of General Custer.
GARRYOWEN, a compound English word composed of two Irish words, Garrai (the Irish word
for Garden) and Eoin (the Irish word for the name John, referencing King John's Castle).
The Irish name Eoin, pronounced as "O-in" or "Oh-en", was later phonically transformed
to "Owen" in the English language, thus allowing the two separate Irish words "Garrai"
and "Eoin" to be translated into the single compound English word, written without a
capital "O", as Garryowen.
Its rollicking air symbolizes the esprit de corps for which the Regiment
is noted. (For many years the Regimental song was accepted as being of
Scottish origin; however, it has been definitely established that the song
is of Irish origin.) Go To Details
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The arm, taken from the Crest of the Regimental Coat of Arms, symbolizes
the spirit of the Cavalry Charge. At the same time of the organization
of the Regiment this position of the arm and saber was known as “Raise
Saber” and was taken at the command, “Charge.” The saber itself is of old
Cavalry type used in the Indian campaigns. The gauntlet is also symbolic
of those times. The blue of the sleeve is the blue of the old Army uniform.
the twisted emblem at the toe is symbolic of Indian days.
Colors.
Horseshoe - The Horseshoe is to be standard cavalry yellow, the crease of
the shoe to be in black with the nail heads in white.
Scroll - The Scroll to be blue and of a shade identical
with that of the doeskin formerly established as standard by the Quartermaster
General for trowsers of the officers of the line of the old blue uniform.
Motto - The Motto to be in yellow, reverse side of scroll. Twisted
emblem below hand to be alternating light blue and yellow of the same shades
as the scroll and shoe.
Gauntlet - The Gauntlet to be buckskin grey with shading of black.
Sabre - The Sabre to be of gold with hilt of gold. Black
grip threaded with gold.
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