Governor to Mark National Guard's 388th Birthday Friday

LINCOLN, Neb. – Governor Jim Pillen, Maj. Gen. Craig Strong and others will mark the National Guard’s 388th Birthday during a 10 a.m. ceremony in the State Capitol Rotunda on Friday, Dec. 13.
The ceremony will include speeches, a state rollcall of Nebraska National Guard communities, the awarding of the Douglas MacArthur Leadership Award to a Nebraska Army National Guard officer, Soldier and Airmen of the Year recognitions, and the ceremonial cutting of the National Guard birthday cake.

The National Guard was established on Dec. 13, 1636, when members of the Massachusetts Bay Colony came together in collective defense by establishing three militia regiments (East, South and North). Since the founding of the National Guard – the oldest of all U.S. military organizations – the National Guard has fought in each of the nation’s wars while also responding numerous times to local, state and national emergencies. Today, the National Guard is located in 54 states and territories and serves as the primary operational reserve force of the U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force, while also supporting numerous local, state and national efforts.  

Closer to home, the Nebraska National Guard will also mark its 170th Birthday this month. The Nebraska Guard was formed on Dec. 23, 1854, following a call by then acting Territorial Governor Thomas B. Cumings for Nebraska settlers to form two militia regiments. Today, the Nebraska Army and Air National Guard numbers nearly 5,000 total Soldiers and Airmen who serve in units located across Nebraska. The Nebraska National Guard, along with supporting the U.S. Army and Air Force, is also available to serve the Governor of Nebraska during local and state emergencies.

The Nebraska National Guard also serves as a partner with the defense forces of the Czech Republic and Rwanda through the National Guard’s State Partnership Program.