Kansas’ state flower is the wild sunflower and its nickname is the “Sunflower State,” so it’s certainly fitting that the Shoulder Sleeve Insignia of Kansas Army National Guard (ARNG) personnel serving at the state’s National Guard Joint Force Headquarters (HQ) features a sunflower on a blue disc. While the blue recalls the blue skies over the state, it actually serves along with the flower’s yellow to denote the land that makes up the state as part of the Louisiana Purchase, and thus a French possession before the deal was struck.
The Kansas Army National Guard Element, Joint Force HQ unit patch was originally approved for HQ and HQ Detachment, Kansas National Guard on 22 October 1951 and was redesignated for all non-divisional units of the Kansas National guard a little under five years later on 24 June 1956. It would be redesignated one more time—on 30 December 1983 for the HQ, State Area Command of the Kansas ARNG—before receiving its current designation with an updated description and an added symbolism on 1 October 2003.
Under the command of the highest-ranking military officer in the state, the Adjutant General, the Kansas National Guard is headquartered at Topeka, Kansas.
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Kansas ARNG Element, Joint Force HQ Unit Crest (DUI)