Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Roberto Di Giovine | U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Robert E. Livingston, Jr., the adjutant general for South...... read more read more
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COLUMBIA, S.C. - Members of the South Carolina National Guard joined U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Robert E. Livingston, the adjutant general for South Carolina, for a cake-cutting ceremony celebrating the 379th Birthday of the National Guard, Dec. 11, at the adjutant general's building auditorium in Columbia, South Carolina.
The National Guard heritage dates back to the 13 original colonies in North America. The oldest of its units was organized on December 13, 1636, in the Massachusetts Bay Colony militia. This makes the Guard the oldest component of the Armed Forces of the United States, and one of the oldest military organizations in the world.
The Founding Fathers recognized the importance of the militia by writing it into the U.S. Constitution. In the case of the militia, power was divided between the individual states and the federal government. This dual state-federal organization still characterizes the National Guard today and is unique in the world.
The National Guard's theme is "Proven in Battle. Trusted at Home," which reinforces the National Guard is a professional, reliable and unique military force that excels at homeland response and overseas combat missions. For almost four centuries, no other U.S. military force has the authorities, training and proximity to better perform a dual-mission role.
Most recently, more than 3,700 S.C. National Guard members mobilized to respond to the historic flooding that occurred state-wide in early October. The S.C. National Guard saved 28 lives with the S.C. Helicopter Aquatic Rescue Team, evacuated over 3,000 people from flood waters, provided sand bag deliveries, water distribution, purified over 1.8 million gallons of water, conducted emergency road repairs and supported the Columbia canal operations, among many other
missions. Today, nearly half of Guard members are combat veterans. During the past 14 years of conflict, more than 18,000 South Carolina National Guard Soldiers and Airmen have deployed and 16 have paid the ultimate sacrifice for our nation.
“When you look back to the history of our great nation, even before the establishment of the United States, was the birth of the National Guard, the original defender of the homeland,” said Livingston. “This sentiment still holds true today, as the National Guard, the oldest military force in the U.S. and parent to the U.S Army and other services, continues to deploy to protect our nation and support here at home.”
| Date Taken: | 12.11.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 12.11.2015 15:45 |
| Story ID: | 184300 |
| Location: | COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA, US |
| Web Views: | 193 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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