FORT SILL Okla_ Active duty
soldiers on Fort Sill wished "Happy Birthday"
to the Army National Guard Thursday.
This birthday
is a big one, because the Guard has been around longer than the country: 376
years.
The troops got
a bit of a history lesson today at the post's Snow Hall. They were treated to a
video showing the Guard's illustrious history up to and including its most
recent job: helping on the east coast during Superstorm Sandy.
Fort Sill Senior Guard Advisor Colonel Paul Caviness reminded
the crowd that the Guard dates back to 1636 in Salem, Massachusetts.
"It goes
to our core of being citizen soldiers," COL Caviness said. "If you look at our
minute, it's got one hand on the musket, and the other hand is on a plow share.
That's showing our link back to the citizen and our piece in the history of the
united states."
Fort Sill Private
Jennifer Lee has the honor of being the youngest Guardsman on post, so she was
given the honor of helping cut the birthday cake with a sword.
"It was intimidating," PVT Lee said. "I
found it very honoring to be here and invited to the ceremony."
She said she
plans to become an officer in the army.
