Supporting Our Nation

Welcome to The Institute of Heraldry Website!

The purpose of this site is to provide information on United States heraldic entitlements, how they are displayed, and how and why they are worn.

The Institute of Heraldry has a long and distinguished record of support to the United States Army. Its roots were firmly planted in 1919 when President Woodrow Wilson directed the creation of the Heraldic Program Office under the War Department General Staff. Its purpose was to take responsibility for the coordination and approval of coats of arms and other insignia for Army organizations. By the end of World War II, its role expanded to include the other military services. In 1957 Public Law 85-263 directed the Secretary of the Army to furnish heraldic services to all branches of the federal government. The Institute's wide range of heraldic services include decorations, flags, streamers, agency seals, coats of arms, badges, and other forms of official emblems and insignia.

We welcome your comments and suggestions. If you have questions, please refer to our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) page. If you need additional information, please email USARMY Ft Belvoir HQDA Mailbox TIOH Webmaster.

Recently Added Items

(Heraldic items added in the last six months)

What's New


Jan 2013 - View the NBC Channel 4 video The Making of the Presidential Seals.

Jan 2013 - View the NBC Channel 4 video Day of Glory for the Seal

Winter 2013 - Read the TIOH article in The Armiger's News newsletter (see page 5).

Dec 2012 - Read the new Washingtonian Article Crafting the Presidential Seal .

Mar 2012 - Update added to Combat Service Identification Badges (CSIB) listing page. View CSIB Status (pdf) last updated 29 Mar 2012.

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