Posted on 12/13/2009 3:06:06 PM PST by SandRat
BAGHDAD — A ceremony here today in Camp Victory's Al Faw palace celebrated the birthday of the U.S. military's oldest component, the National Guard.
Members of the Army National Guard’s 101st Engineer Battalion joined more than 1000 other service members in the palace rotunda to recognize the National Guard's 373rd birthday.
The National Guard was established on Dec. 13, 1636, when the Massachusetts Bay General Court ordered the formation of the town's militia companies into North, South, and East regional regiments as a means of improving training, readiness, command and control.
"Today's modern National Guard units are direct descendants of the militias of the 13 original English colonies," said Maj. Gen. Peter Aylward, deputy commanding general for Iraqi Security Forces, Arlington, Va.
From those first-established regiments, the Guard has grown to provide a ready force in 54 states and territories. There are more than 460,000 Army and Air Guard personnel serving in the U.S. military with more than 21,000 Soldiers and Airmen serving in Iraq among 328 units.
One unit in particular serving in Iraq at this time is the 101st Engineer Battalion. The 101st is the nation's oldest unit, tracing its lineage back to the East Regiment.
"They are the descendants of the members who conducted the very first muster on Salem common," Aylward said.
Representing the 101st at today's ceremony was the youngest member of the long-standing unit, Pfc. Jeramie R. Burgos.
"This is a great day to rejoice," Burgos said, after reading the "I am the Guard" creed. "To honor the blood, sweat and tears that have come before us is important."
Burgos, a Worchester, Mass., native and a gunner on the 101st command’s security detail, expressed the sense of pride he feels as the youngest Soldier in the 101st.
"We were the first Engineer Battalion in the United States," Burgos said.
"As Citizen Soldiers the true character of the National Guard is represented by the Concord Minute Man, one hand on his musket, one hand on the plow,” Aylward said. “Citizens in peace and Soldiers in war, today's men and women of the National Guard represent the finest this nation has to offer."
(By Spc. Amburr Reese, 114th Public Affairs Detachment)
That may be, but we still honor our history as Minutemen. My unit hands out a Minuteman statue to retirees. It symbolizes our connection as citizen soldiers to our local villages, towns and cities that the Active Duty cannot maintain due to their constant movement.
My unit has many cases of 3rd and 4th generation family members joining the same unit. Often Fathers and sons and daughters work side by side.
It is a tradition that we are proud of and is unique to the Guard. Happy Birthday!!
Three Massachusetts National Guard units have had continuous existence since 1636; they have never been disbanded.
To Spc. Amburr Reese, of the 114th Public Affairs Detachment. It is WORCESTER, MA. Not Worchester
I am very proud that my grandfather, Capt. William Traske, was the first military commander for the East Regiment!
We used to say that the Army and Navy have traditions while the Air Force has habits. The Guard does indeed have a longer history and a proud one.
The guard likes to claim that they are the militia as in the 2nd amendment. There was a brochure released by the Military Order of World Wars claiming that the guard is the only form of constitutional militia. In reality they are a federal reserve, all ties to individual states are superficial.
http://www.jerseyblues.org/history.html
“The first organized militia regiment in the Western World was formed in 1673 at Piscataway”
The Puerto Rico militia was established in 1510.
http://www.ngef.org/index.asp?bid=82
and they are the ‘organized’ militia and all able bodied citizen up to an age specified by each state is the ‘unorganized’ militia.
Where is this engraved in stone?
each state’s constitution, Arizona’s for sure.
One of the purposes of the militia concept was to retain power in the hands of the people but the NG is an instrument of government.
My father was Assistant US Property and Fiscal officer for the FL NG from about 1946 until 1970. I have nothing against the NG but it is not the 2nd amendment militia. The argument that it is the militia is often used to justify disarming Americans. The Military Order of World Wars actually did release a brochure that would support NG action in disarming civilians. I saw the damned thing, held it in my hands.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.