e-ReferenceDesk's College and 50 State Learning Resource Guide

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State Symbols

The official state symbols represent the cultural heritage and natural treasures of each state or the entire United States

West Virginia Symbols

West Virginia Symbols

Animal, Bird, Butterfly, Coat of Arms, Colors, Day, Fish, Flag, Flower, Fruit, Gem, Insect, Military Crest, Motto, Seal, Nicknames, Soil, Song, Tree

West Virginia State Military Crest

State Military Crest

Adopted on September 26, 1863.

The state military crest, which is the crest used in the coats of arms of units of the National Guard, as granted by the precursor organizations of what is now the Army Institute of Heraldry. The official Institute of Heraldry blazon is "A slip of mountain rhododendron in full bloom and leaved proper."

National Guard

Crest.

           Description: That for regiments and separate battalions of the West Virginia Army National Guard: From a wreath of colors, a slip of mountain rhododendron in full bloom and leaved Proper.
          Symbolism: The mountain rhododendron is the State flower and appears on the flag of West Virginia.
          Background: The crest was approved for color bearing organizations of the State of West Virginia on 4 April 1924.

State Symbols

State symbols represent things that are special to a particular state.

symbol \ˈsim-bəl\
noun

Etymology:
in sense 1, from Late Latin symbolum, from Late Greek symbolon, from Greek, token, sign; in other senses from Latin symbolum token, sign, symbol, from Greek symbolon, literally, token of identity verified by comparing its other half, from symballein to throw together, compare, from syn- + ballein to throw — more at devil
Date: 15th century

1: Something that represents something else by association, resemblance, or convention, especially a material object used to represent something invisible.