The Illinois National Guard heritage is similar to the state tree, the White Oak. The trunk is stout and strong much like the core of the Guard. Branches lead off of one another comparable to the organizational heritage. Units have come and gone throughout the years due to reorganization, similar to limbs that need trimming from time to time. Although visibly removed, units remain forever linked to the trunk of history. Each leaf is unique, like the ebb and flow if enlistments, career changes, and retirements. Acorns are unique to the white oak, just like the deployments that occupy bunches of leaves or Service Members.