Photo By Lt. Col. Angela King-Sweigart | Rob Dutrey of Historic Carlisle Inc. stands with Sgt. Ryan Aungst and Sgt. Jessie...... read more read more
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CARLISLE, Pa.—More than 50 community supporters gathered at a local unit’s former armory on June 26, 2017 to dedicate a plaque in honor of the unit’s 100th anniversary of its activation.
On July 15, 1917 the Carlisle, Pennsylvania unit, Company G, 8th Regiment, 28th Infantry Division, was activated into federal service for World War I. Following train-up at the local fairgrounds, the unit departed Carlisle on September 10, 1917. First for Camp Hancock in Georgia, and then via ship to France, where on July 7, 1918 they saw their first action. Today’s unit 1st Battalion 108th Field Artillery Regiment, 56th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 28th Infantry Division, Pennsylvania National Guard is still stationed in Carlisle in a newer armory.
The town of Carlisle arranged a large send-off for their troops in 1917. “It was an emotional event for everyone involve-as those kinds of ceremonies still are today,” said retired Col. John Maietta, a local World War I historian and Pennsylvania National Guard Veteran.
One hundred years later the community still remembers the sacrifice of the unit and in the ceremony revealed the plaque.
The plaque discusses the unit’s nickname, the “Gobin Guards” as well as the unit’s mobilization for World War I. The name was selected in honor of John Gobin, a Civil War general in the Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry who later served as lieutenant governor of Pennsylvania.
President Gerald Paden and Treasurer Jack Lentz of the Gobin Guards Association were on-hand to witness the event. The Gobin Guards Association is open to all current and prior members of the historic unit.
“It’s great the armory is still here, and the community is still supporting us,” said Lentz. Paden agreed, “This brings the history of the unit to the forefront and I hope it continues.” Current Pennsylvania National Guard member Chief Warrant Officer 3 Kathleen Lentz assigned to Joint Force Headquarters Pennsylvania National Guard was also thankful and said, “I’m appreciative of the community remembering our history.”
A community supporter Larry Small, another Veteran of the Pennsylvania National Guard and member of Historic Carlisle Inc. was looking forward to the increased visibility of Carlisle’s history. “We have 29 of these markers in place. They get read. This marker was a natural for us. Especially with the 100th anniversary of World War I.”
After the plaque was revealed the community went inside for a brief presentation by Maietta detailing the unit’s mobilization, as well as a World War I living history presentation by Janeal Jaroh of Time Traveler’s Trunks.
Founded in 1747, the Pennsylvania National Guard is comprised of nearly 20,000 Soldiers and Airmen in more than 90 communities across the Commonwealth.
| Date Taken: | 07.05.2017 |
| Date Posted: | 07.06.2017 13:21 |
| Story ID: | 240121 |
| Location: | CARLISLE, PENNSYLVANIA, US |
| Web Views: | 255 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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