The Distinctive Unit Insignia of the 115th Infantry Regiment prominently displays the unit motto “Rally Around The Flag,” a battle cry made famous by Union Colonel John R. Kenly as he attempted to invigorate his troops to make a stand against a hard-charging Confederate force led by General Stonewall Jackson at the Battle of Front Royal. Though inspirational and memorable, Kenly’s exhortation did not lead to victory, but it did slow the Confederates enough to save another Union army from possible from encirclement.
Fighting in the battle was the 1st Regiment Maryland Volunteer Infantry, forebear of the 115th, and its Southern counterpart, the 1st Maryland Confederates States of America Regiment; it was the only time in U.S. history two regiments with the same state and numerical designations fought each other in battle.
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Distinctive Unit Insignias are worn by all Soldiers (except General Officers) in units that have been authorized to be issued the device. It is worn centered on the shoulder loops of the Army Green Service Uniform (AGSU) and the blue Army Service Uniform (ASU, Enlisted only) with the base of the insignia toward the outside shoulder seam. DUIs are not worn on the Dress variations of either uniform, however.
Also called a unit crest, the 115th Infantry Regiment Distinctive Unit Insignia was first approved on 14 July 1927 for the 1st Regiment Infantry, Maryland National Guard. On 3 February 1941, it was redesignated for the 115th Infantry Regiment, Maryland Army National Guard. Its shield is white, the color of Infantry until 1903, and it features a blue and gray saltires to denote its Civil War service. Three alerions on the saltire are taken from the coat of arms of Lorraine and symbolize the unit’s fighting in the Meuse-Argonne campaign of World War I. The red four-leaf clover stands for service in the 1st Division, 2nd Corps in the War With Spain, while the cactus recalls Mexican border service in 1916.
Full guidance on wear of the DUI is found in DA Pamphlet 670-1, Section 21-22, "Distinctive unit insignia" and 21–3(d) and (e), "Beret" and "Garrison Cap," respectively.