| Patches are structures that are worn on a uniform. | | | | sleeve insignia (patches), flags; medals, seals, coats of |
| Officially these structures are known as shoulder | | | | arms, and other items for the Army were with the |
| sleeve insignias. Patches are primarily of two types - | | | | U.S Army Quartermaster Corps. This job was handed |
| unit patches and shoulder patches. Unit patches | | | | over to the Institute of Heraldry in 1960. The |
| display the unit from which the personnel hails, while | | | | Institute of Heraldry is a part of the Quartermaster |
| the shoulder patches, worn on the shoulder or | | | | Corp, and it was the only organization in the U.S. |
| sometimes on the sleeves, display the rank of the | | | | Government that was devoted to the science and |
| individuals. | | | | art of heraldry and other types of official symbolism. |
| During the Second World War, the United States | | | | In 1962, the Institute's responsibility was handed over |
| became a dominant world power. The new status | | | | to the Army Adjutant General?s office when the |
| demanded the incorporation of newer forms of | | | | Quartermaster General's office was shut down. |
| symbolism and the science and art of heraldry | | | | Patches are a wonderful collector's item. Today, it is |
| became important. This was the time when insignia | | | | not uncommon to see people collecting different |
| gained prominence and the US military began | | | | patches from World War I and World War II. These |
| renewed efforts at developing powerful symbols in | | | | patches are valuable collectibles although in monetary |
| the form of patches. | | | | terms they may not be worth more than 2 or 3 |
| Who decides the patches for each rank and | | | | dollars. However, collectors often feel that the |
| personnel in the Army? Clearly, there are specialized | | | | monetary value of patches is immaterial as compared |
| group of people who are responsible for the job. | | | | to the wealth of history they carry. However, there |
| Between 1924 and 1962, the specialized job of | | | | are a very small number of y scarce patches that |
| research, design, and development of distinctive | | | | share great value both monetarily as well as a |
| elements of the uniform like the unit insignia, shoulder | | | | collectible. |