of arms Blazon Shield: Argent, a royal palm branch paleways Proper, on a chief embattled Azure five Mohawk arrowheads of the first. For informal use, the shield encircled by a fourragére in the colors of the French Croix de Guerre. Crest: On a wreath of the colors Argent and Azure a sun in splendor charged with a Mohawk arrowhead Azure. Motto: "PALMAM QUI MERUIT FERAT" (Let Him Bear The Palm Who Has Won It). Symbolism: The shield is white with a blue chief, the old and the present Infantry colors. The dividing line embattled stands for the entrenchments which the regiment has so many times assaulted. The Mohawk arrowhead was the regimental insignia during World War I. It was selected by Colonel Hamilton A. Smith as indicating the American virtues and the regimental spirit of courage, resourceful daring and relentless pursuit of an enemy. Colonel Smith was killed while leading the regiment in the first great offensive in which it took part. The arrow is repeated five times because in five major offensives the regiment exhibited these qualities indicated by the badge which it had adopted and by which it was designated during these engagements. The palm of victory displayed on the shield and the motto refer to the only award the regiment seeks. The arrowhead is repeated in the crest to indicate the same regimental spirit under all conditions. The sun, taken from the Katipunan flag, symbolizes service in the Philippine Insurrection. Background: The coat of arms was approved on 1973-04-16. Distinctive unit insignia Description: The distinctive unit insignia is a gold color metal and enamel device 1 1/8 inches (2.86 cm) in height overall, consisting of a white enamel shield charged with a blue enamel Indian arrowhead point to chief. Symbolism: The shield is the characteristic device of the regiment. Background: The distinctive unit insignia was approved on 1973-04-16. Background Trimmings Description: A white oval-shaped embroidered item 1 3/8 inches (3.49 cm) in height and inches (5.72 cm) in width overall, all within a 1/4 (3.18 cm) ultramarine blue border notched at the horizontal center line. The background trimming was approved on 24 October 2014. Lineage 26th Infantry Regiment Constituted 2 February 1901 in the Regular Army as the 26th Infantry Organized 22 February 1901 with headquarters at Fort McPherson, Georgia (1st Battalion organized in December 1900 at the Presidio of San Francisco, California, as the 1st Provisional