Photo By Sgt. Tracy Knowles | At al-Faw Palace, Dec. 13, members of the 101st Engineer Battalion, the oldest unit in...... read more read more
BAGHDAD — In 1636, the first American militia regiments were organized by the general courts of the Massachusetts Bay Colony.
Starting with the Pequot War in 1637, through the present day, the Army National Guard has defended freedom in every war or conflict our nation has fought, making them the oldest of the U.S. armed forces.
On Dec. 13, hundreds of service members observed the National Guard's 373rd birthday, on Camp Victory.
The 101st Engineer Battalion, 181st Infantry Regiment, 101st Field Artillery and 182nd Cavalry Regiment are the only units in the U.S. Army that can display the Lexington-Concord battle streamer because they descended from units that fought in the opening battles, April 19, 1775, of the Revolutionary War.
Soldiers of the 101st Eng. Bn. continued this tradition of protecting our Nation in June, 2009, by deploying in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, earning their 36th battle streamer.
The birthday celebration and short ceremony took place at al-Faw Palace. The youngest member of the 101st Engineer Battalion, Pfc. Jeramie Burgos, of Worcester, Mass., read the National Guard poem.
"Being part of this celebration is an honor, being the youngest member of the oldest military organization in the United States Army is pretty sweet," said Burgos.
Maj. Gen. Peter Aylward, MNC-I deputy commanding general for Iraqi security forces military, spoke about the history of the National Guard and the importance of the citizen soldier. Currently, there are over 21,000 National Guard Soldiers deployed in support of OIF.
"Today you [Soldiers] are helping to bring freedom to Iraq, thank you for your hard work and sacrifice," said Aylward.
The 101st Engineer Battalion is another year older and continues the tradition of proudly defending freedom, protecting dreams, and standing ready to fight at a moment's notice.
| Date Taken: | 12.14.2009 |
| Date Posted: | 12.14.2009 02:15 |
| Story ID: | 42708 |
| Location: | BAGHDAD, IQ |
| Web Views: | 568 |
| Downloads: | 500 |
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