National Guard celebrates 378 years

FORT SILL, Okla. -- Fort Sill celebrated the National Guard's birthday with a ceremony inside Snow Hall Dec. 12.

"We ask you to bless us as we come together to celebrate 378th years of service by the citizens of our country and service to their respective states and their country," said Chaplain (Maj.) James O'Neal.

Col. Paul Caviness, Fires Center of Excellence Army National Guard chief of staff, went over the history of the National Guard beginning with the direct declaration on December 13, 1636.

"Throughout our history, the Guard has been an invisible, but vital force. Most days we are among you in the community. We could be sitting next to you, the mechanic working on your car, maybe the farmer in a distant field ... yet make no mistake. When a domestic crisis hits, or the call to arms is declared, the National Guard transforms; emerging from the general population to serve as citizen Soldiers and Airmen when called upon.

"The National Guard stands up to our motto: Always Ready, Always There," said Caviness.

He cited the Guard has Soldiers and Airmen in more than 3,300 communities across the United States and in U.S. territories.

"When Americans want to reach out to their military, those that they reach are most often in the National Guard.

This proximity also saves lives, time and resources. This is as true today as it was almost four centuries ago," said Caviness.

Brig. Gen. Keith Klemmers, Arkansas National Guard deputy adjutant general, also spoke in the ceremony and said the Guard represents more than 50 percent of the Army's air defense and field artillery capabilities.

The National Guard has contributed in every conflict since it originated and half of its current members hold the status of combat veteran.

Caviness said they continue to contribute in current operations as an element from 1st Battalion, 158th Field Artillery, Oklahoma Army National Guard, stationed at Fort Sill, just returned from Afghanistan where they manned and operated High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems.

"Just as important is our distinct mission as state protector during times of crisis," said Caviness. "Here in the U.S. in the last year alone hundreds of tornadoes ravaged the South. Severe flooding impacted the Midwest and the South and wildfires burned half of a dozen states. Your National Guard was ready and was there ... Americans helping Americans."