The 34th Infantry Division is a division

Division (military)

A division is a large military unit or formation usually consisting of between 10,000 and 20,000 soldiers. In most armies, a division is composed of several regiments or brigades, and in turn several divisions typically make up a corps...

 in the Army National Guard

Army National Guard

Established under Title 10 and Title 32 of the U.S. Code, the Army National Guard is part of the National Guard and is divided up into subordinate units stationed in each of the 50 states, three territories and the District of Columbia operating under their respective governors...

 that participated in World War I, World War II and continues to serve today, with most of the Division part of the Minnesota

Minnesota National Guard

The Minnesota National Guard is composed of approximately 14,000 soldiers of the Minnesota Army National Guard and Airmen of the Minnesota Air National Guard, serving in 63 communities across the state. The Constitution of the United States specifically charges the National Guard with dual federal...

 and Iowa

Iowa National Guard

The Iowa National Guard consists of the:*Iowa Army National Guard and the*Iowa Air National Guard-External links:* compiled by the United States Army Center of Military History*...

 National Guard. It is staffed by roughly 2,800 soldiers from the Iowa Guard, about 350 from the Nebraska Guard, and about 100 from other states. It holds the distinctions of being the first US Division deployed to Europe in World War II.
The division takes its name from the shoulder sleeve insignia designed for a 1917 training camp contest by American regionalist

Regionalism (art)

Regionalism is an American realist modern art movement that was popular during the 1930s. The artistic focus was from artists who shunned city life, and rapidly developing technological advances, to create scenes of rural life...

 artist Marvin Cone

Marvin Cone

Marvin Dorwart Cone was an American painter in the regionalist style.He was born in Cedar Rapids, Iowa and lived there most of his life. He graduated from Washington High School in 1910. Cone attended college and traveled to Paris with his contemporary and high-school friend, Grant Wood...

, who was then a soldier enlisted in the unit.