Add post on MDDF SSI

_posts/2025/2025-01-07-the-maryland-defense-forces-shoulder-sleeve-insignia.md

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+---
+id: the-maryland-defense-forces-shoulder-sleeve-insignia
+layout: post
+title: "The Maryland Defense Force's Shoulder Sleeve Insignia"
+date: 2025-01-07
+author: k3jph
+permalink: /2025/01/07/the-maryland-defense-forces-shoulder-sleeve-insignia
+featured_image: /assets/img/2025/the-maryland-defense-forces-shoulder-sleeve-insignia.webp
+categories:
+  - Blog
+tags:
+  - Maryland Defense Force
+  - heraldry
+  - Maryland
+  - graphic design
+---
+
+The [Maryland Defense Force (MDDF)](https://military.maryland.gov/mddf/)
+has long been a quiet but critical part of Maryland's military heritage.
+As a state defense force, it supports the Maryland National Guard and
+serves the people of Maryland in times of need. Its members wear a
+distinctive [shoulder sleeve insignia (SSI)]() that is both visually
+striking and deeply symbolic.
+
+This insignia raises a fascinating questions about the connection to
+Maryland's history and what broader symbolism might it carry.  To
+uncover the answers, we must look beyond the present and trace the
+threads of military tradition, reconciliation, and commemoration that
+have shaped its story.
+
+{% include figure.html image="ribbons/mddf/MDDF-SSI.svg" placement="right" width="3"
+cap="The Maryland Defense Force's shoulder sleeve insignia"
+alt="The Maryland Defense Force's shoulder sleeve insignia" %}
+
+The MDDF shoulder sleeve insignia is a marriage of modern design with
+historical resonance:
+
+> _Taegeuk_ per pale Sable and Or, overall a cross bottony quarterly
+> Gules and Argent.
+
+The _[Taegeuk](https://asiasociety.org/education/taegeuk)_, drawing
+inspiration from East Asian traditions while incorporating elements of
+Maryland's heraldic identity.  The vertical division into black (Sable)
+and yellow (Or) evokes Maryland's colors, while the overlaid [Crossland
+cross](https://msa.maryland.gov/megafile/msa/speccol/sc3500/sc3520/000100/000191/html/191bio.html)
+connects directly to the state's history and arms. This thoughtful
+design acknowledges the MDDF's local mission while drawing a clear link
+to the broader legacy of the 29th Infantry Division.
+
+The [29th Infantry Division](https://va.ng.mil/Army-Guard/29th-ID/)
+holds a unique place in American military history, and its shoulder
+sleeve insignia,
+
+{% include figure.html image="2025/the-maryland-defense-forces-shoulder-sleeve-insignia/29thDiv-SSI.svg" placement="right" width="3"
+cap="The 29th Division's shoulder sleeve insignia"
+alt="The 29th Division's shoulder sleeve insignia" %}
+
+> _Taegeuk_ per pale Azure and
+> [Cendrée](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cendr%C3%A9e), 
+
+symbolizes reconciliation and unity. The blue and gray colors reflect
+the Union and Confederate armies, acknowledging the division's origins
+and its role in bridging Civil War divisions. Formed from National Guard
+units across northern and southern states, including Maryland, the
+division embodied a reunited nation.
+
+This symbolism carried forward into World War II, where the 29th
+Infantry Division played a pivotal role. On June 6, 1944, it was among
+the first units to land on [Omaha Beach during the D-Day
+invasion](https://www.dday-overlord.com/en/battle-of-normandy/forces/usa/29th-infantry-division).
+Soldiers from Maryland, Virginia, and other states fought side by side,
+their blue and gray insignia symbolizing their shared sacrifice and
+commitment to unity. Today, the division's history and its SSI remain
+powerful reminders of strength in unity.
+
+The legacy of the 29th Infantry Division extends beyond the battlefield.
+In Maryland, [U.S. Route
+29](https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/infrastructure/us29.cfm) bears the honorary
+designation of the 29th Infantry Division Memorial Highway,
+commemorating the division's sacrifices. This highway runs through
+states that contributed National Guard units to the division, linking
+its origins to the places it represents. In Maryland, markers such as
+trailblazer signs featuring the division's _taegeuk_ insignia and a
+commemorative monument at the US 40 interchange in Ellicott City ensure
+that the division's story remains visible and accessible.
+
+The _taegeuk_, with its deep roots in Korean culture as a symbol of
+balance and harmony, has transcended its origins to take on new meanings
+in American military heraldry. For the 29th Infantry Division, the
+_Taegeuk_ per pale Azure and Cendrée represented national reconciliation
+and unity. For the Maryland Defense Force, the _taegeuk_ per pale Sable
+and Or reflects a local focus, tying themes of balance and harmony to
+the state's unique identity through the addition of the Crossland cross.
+
+This continuity highlights the enduring nature of the _taegeuk_'s
+symbolism. From the battlefields of Normandy to the streets of Maryland,
+the _taegeuk_ remains a beacon of harmony, adaptability, and commitment,
+bridging the past and present in the service of shared ideals.
+
+_Image above from the United States Army, 29th Infantry Division
+entering St. Lo, France, on July 20, 1944.__