State Crest Badge

**Hermes** · 30th December 10, 12:43 PM

There should be crest badges created for states - I'd like to see a Michigan one, or a specifically Yooper badge (for that matter, a Yooper tartan) - discuss.

**Burly Brute** · 30th December 10, 01:23 PM

Who is going to decide that!? lol Arizona's will probably be a cactus or something dumb.

**Hermes** · 30th December 10, 01:27 PM

Wisconsin Scottish has created a cute one for their state:

http://www.wisconsinscottish.org/store.html

Michigan could have the same, but with a wolverine instead of a badger.

**AFS1970** · 30th December 10, 02:20 PM

Why would anything new need to be created? All states already have a state seal that could be made into a badge. That is the problem with too much creativity, everyone wants to reinvent the wheel, and most discussions agree it should be round but stall over what color to paint it.

**Hermes** · 30th December 10, 03:07 PM

Well, actually that's what I had in my mind, using the state seal. Has anyone done this though? Does anyone do custom badges that I could commission to create this?

**macwilkin** · 30th December 10, 06:01 PM

Originally Posted by AFS1970

Why would anything new need to be created? All states already have a state seal that could be made into a badge. That is the problem with too much creativity, everyone wants to reinvent the wheel, and most discussions agree it should be round but stall over what color to paint it.

Except many of the state seals are not attractive and heraldically correct.

T.

**macwilkin** · 30th December 10, 06:10 PM

Originally Posted by Burly Brute

Who is going to decide that!? lol Arizona's will probably be a cactus or something dumb.

Considering that the Saguaro blossom is the state flower of Arizona, I'm not sure why it is "something dumb". Using the state flower as a kilt pin or a plant badge is a novel idea; Matt has a Dogwood badge on his Carolina kilt, for example.

Another possibility might be if your state had an issue badge for its regiments in the Civil War; I wear a reproduction badge for Iowa regiments as a kilt pin on my Iowa tartan.

I know the Minnesota St. Andrew's Society has developed their own distinct cap badge, on the same lines as the Wisconsin Scottish badge.

T.

**Hermes** · 30th December 10, 06:26 PM

I kind of like Michigan's seal, but yeah, the detail would get lost, Lyle. I'm thinking of having maybe just the shape of the Upper Peninsula (since I'm a Yooper), or possibly a wolverine, or even the University of Michigan "M".

Cajunscot, interesting ideas. For Michigan - apple blossom (state flower), or dwarf lake iris (state wildflower). And, where might I find these repos of regiment badges? I am quite fond of the Wisconsin Scottish cap badge, but I haven't found that any of Michigan's Scottish societies have come up with anything the like. Though I also plan on putting together a Wisconsin kilt outfit at some point, since my grandfather was from Green Bay and as a Yooper we tend to associate closely with Wisconsin, if not more so than with Michigan, anyway, so I'll probably use that as a cap badge.

**macwilkin** · 30th December 10, 06:40 PM

Originally Posted by Hermes

I kind of like Michigan's seal, but yeah, the detail would get lost, Lyle. I'm thinking of having maybe just the shape of the Upper Peninsula (since I'm a Yooper), or possibly a wolverine, or even the University of Michigan "M".

Cajunscot, interesting ideas. For Michigan - apple blossom (state flower), or dwarf lake iris (state wildflower). And, where might I find these repos of regiment badges? I am quite fond of the Wisconsin Scottish cap badge, but I haven't found that any of Michigan's Scottish societies have come up with anything the like. Though I also plan on putting together a Wisconsin kilt outfit at some point, since my grandfather was from Green Bay and as a Yooper we tend to associate closely with Wisconsin, if not more so than with Michigan, anyway, so I'll probably use that as a cap badge.

I honestly don't know if Michigan produced any distinctive insignia for its regiments. Civil War reenactor "sutlers", merchants who sell reproduction kit, may have something:

http://www.blockaderunner.com/Catalog/hatbrass2.htm

Note the Louisiana pelican, the Texas stars, and the Arms of New York in the bottom right. There is also the Georgia state seal that a former member hear wore on his Georgia tartan kilt. Not every state produced such insignia, but it could be an option...

T.

**Detroitpete** · 30th December 10, 08:29 PM

Originally Posted by cajunscot

I honestly don't know if Michigan produced any distinctive insignia for its regiments. Civil War reenactor "sutlers", merchants who sell reproduction kit, may have something:

http://www.blockaderunner.com/Catalog/hatbrass2.htm

Note the Louisiana pelican, the Texas stars, and the Arms of New York in the bottom right. There is also the Georgia state seal that a former member hear wore on his Georgia tartan kilt. Not every state produced such insignia, but it could be an option...

T.

Hermes,
For a 'Yooper" badge, how about a meat pastie flanked by a trout and a giant black fly?

Just a bit of ribbing from a downstate 'troll'.

I've always thought the idea of a polar bear to be an appropriate symbol of Michigan if one is searching for a symbol of Michigan's fighting forces. It represents the "Polar Bears" (339th Infantry) of WWI and their plight. We still honor them at their monument here on Memorial Day.