Only time and fate knows the future of peace, wars and the new missions that the 21st Field Artillery may be called on to perform. In any situation, they stand ready and can look to its combat record with justifiable pride and hard earned satisfaction. All of the tasks have been tough and they have been done well.

The concept of campaign streamers came to prominence in the Civil War when Army organizations embroidered the names of battles on their organizational colors. This was discontinued in 1890, when units were authorized to place silver bands, engraved with the names of battles, around the staffs of their organizational colors. When American Expedition Forces Units in World War I were unable to obtain silver bands, General Pershing authorized the use of small ribbons bearing the names of the World War I operations. In 1921 all color-bearing Army organizations were authorized to use the large campaign streamers currently displayed.

Only campaign streamers (2 3/4 inches wide and 4 feet long), embroidered with the designation of a campaign and the year(s) in which it occurred, are displayed on the Army flag. The 174 streamers attached to the Army Flag staff denote campaigns fought by the Army throughout our nation's history. The identification colors of the streamer is identical to the color design of the campaign ribbon authorized for service in that particular theater of war.

Streamers (2 3/4 inches wide and 3 feet in length) are currently authorized for display by organizations authorized a distinguishing flag to indicate the following:

• Campaign Streamers. - The streamer reflects campaign participation credit and is the campaign or service ribbon design authorized for the soldiers for that specific conflict or operation during the period. Organizations display the streamers on the colors for campaigns or service for which they have received campaign participation credit as shown on the unit's lineage and honors. The inscription is as shown on the unit's lineage and honors/statement of service. Campaign streamers displayed by organizations do not have the date of the campaign embroidered on the streamer unless it is part of the name (e.g. Mexico 1916-1917). The 174 campaign streamers displayed on the Army flag include the date of the action.
  
  
• War Service Streamers/Battle Streamers. - War service streamers without inscriptions were awarded during or prior to World War II to units located in the theater but did not participate in designated campaigns nor specified battles/locations. Prior to 1945, units may also have been awarded streamers for participation in battles other than designated campaigns. The lineage and honors and the inscription on the streamer indicates location and year rather than the designated campaign (e.g. Civil War Service may reflect "GEORGIA 1863" or WWI reflects "LORRAINE 1918" rather than the name of a designated campaign).
  
  
• Unit Award Streamers. - Unit award streamers indicate the unit has been awarded a unit decoration. Both foreign and US decorations are reflected through the use of unit award streamers. In addition to the regular size unit award streamers for display by organizations authorized a distinguishing flag, unit award streamers (1 3/8 inches wide and 2 feet long) are displayed by separate units authorized a guidon. The inscription, normally location and/or date(s), is as indicated in the unit's lineage and honor.

Streamers are affixed to the attaching device in a counterclockwise manner. LEXINGTON 1775 is the first streamer and KOSOVO AIR CAMPAIGN will be the 174th streamer (with an additional streamer to be added at a later date). When the United States flag is not being carried, the streamers will be arranged in such a manner that LEXINGTON 1775 is displayed in the preeminent position, i.e., in the center facing forward and completely identifiable. The streamer awarded for the most recent campaign will also be visible.

Separate Table of Organization and Equipment (TOE) units authorized a guidon will indicate campaign participation credit by use of a silver band in lieu of a campaign streamer. The silver band is placed on the guidon staff immediately below the guidon. Campaign participation credit for companies of battalions are reflected by the battalion streamer since honors for those companies accrue to the battalion if the battalion received credit. If the battalion did not receive credit but individual companies received credit, the silver band may be displayed by the company.

The following campaign streamers have been earned by the 21st Field Artillery in service for their country.