Photo By Staff Sgt. Zoe Morris | Company B, First West Virginia Infantry, commanded by Captain John B. White. This...... read more read more
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On Feb. 17, 1735, Morgan Morgan's company of riflemen formed in what is now present day Berkeley County and he was commissioned to the rank of captain to lead the new company, the First Virginia Regiment, better known today as the 201st Field Artillery Regiment.
The 201st Field Artillery Regiment is recognized as the oldest active National Guard unit and the longest continuous serving unit in all of the U.S. Army, underscoring that even before America was a country, the patriotic men and women from the state of West Virginia have been committed to service of the state and nation from the start.
In 1775, then General George Washington issued a call for "Virginia Volunteer Riflemen" by stating, "Let me plant my banner in West Augusta (West Virginia) and I will surround it with fighting men who will drive the invaders from our land."
Washington was gathering Continental troops for the Revolutionary War and in response to his request, multiple companies of volunteer soldiers made the 600 mile trek to Boston, better known as the "Bee Line March to Cambridge" and reported to Washington, forming the First Virginia Regiment, American Continental Troop. On June 14, 1775 the American Continental Army was formed, and from all the companies that formed, only the 1st Battalion, 201st Field Artillery Regiment, WVARNG remain active.
In 1889, the unit became part of the new, officially formed West Virginia National Guard's First Infantry, which represented the whole Northern part of the state.
This regiment has served in every conflict the United States has been engaged in, including the Spanish-American War, World War I and II, the Korean War and more recently, the Persian Gulf and Iraq and Afghanistan wars.
"West Virginias have a distinguished lineage of service to this Nation that dates back to before we were a state," said Maj. Gen. James A. Hoyer, The Adjutant General of the West Virginia National Guard. "General Washington sought out the brave militiamen from modern day West Virginia to lead the Continental Army and form this great Nation. We carry on that proud tradition of service today in the West Virginia National Guard. We must recognize the important role that brave West Virginians have played in the history of our State and Nation and the impact we continue to make through the National Guard."
| Date Taken: | 02.15.2018 |
| Date Posted: | 02.15.2018 16:10 |
| Story ID: | 266205 |
| Location: | WEST VIRGINIA, US |
| Web Views: | 171 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
This work, West Virginia National Guard to observe 283rd anniversary of oldest active National Guard unit, by Maj. Holli Nelson, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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