[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 15]
[Senate]
[Pages 21142-21143]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                375TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE NATIONAL GUARD

  Mr. WHITEHOUSE. Today I rise to commemorate the 375th anniversary of 
the National Guard. As ceremonies are held across the country to 
celebrate this historic milestone, I wanted to pay tribute to our 
National Guard for the enormous contributions it has made to our 
country throughout the course of its proud history. The origin of the 
National Guard traces its roots back to the militias of the 13 original 
English colonies. The oldest units were organized on December 13, 1636, 
in the Massachusetts Bay Colony.
  As the motto of the National Guard so aptly puts it, the force is 
``Always Ready, Always There.'' Our Constitution bestows on the 
National Guard dual State and Federal missions. Whether aiding State 
law enforcement, responding to a national emergency or catastrophic 
natural disaster, or serving alongside our Active-Duty Forces overseas, 
the National Guard has always been and continues to be a force on which 
we can depend, in wartime and in peacetime.
  Rhode Island has a distinguished record of National Guard service, 
which began in 1638 when the first colonial defensive force was 
established in Portsmouth, RI. The militia, which was known as the 
Traine Band, was formed to provide protection and security for the 
people. The group eventually evolved into the Rhode Island National 
Guard.
  It was the Rhode Island militia that first engaged in offensive 
action against England during the lead up to the Revolutionary War. On 
July 19, 1769, members of the Rhode Island militia sunk the British 
schooner HMS Liberty in Newport. A few years later, on the night of 
June 10, 1772, Rhode Island volunteers organized under Captain Abraham 
Whipple, seized and burned the HMS Gaspee in Narragansett Bay. Then, on 
April 22, 1775, in response to shots fired at Lexington, MA, the Rhode 
Island General Assembly mobilized a 1,500-man ``Army of Observation'' 
to serve under the command of BG Nathaniel Greene. This force was sent 
to Boston to support the Continental Army in its fight for American 
independence. By the end of the Revolutionary War, more than 22 Rhode 
Island militia units had contributed to our country's glorious cause.
  During the Civil War, more than 23,000 Rhode Island militiamen 
deployed in support of Union forces, and 16 soldiers received Medals of 
Honor. During the First World War, more than 3,800 members of the Rhode 
Island National Guard served in combat as part

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of the 26th ``Yankee'' Division. Furthermore, over 3,000 Rhode Island 
National Guard members were deployed to both the European and Pacific 
theaters to support operations in the Second World War. Rhode Island 
National Guard units also supported operations during the Korean and 
Vietnam wars, as well as Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert 
Storm.
  The Rhode Island National Guard has been particularly active meeting 
the operational demands of the post-9/11 era. Rhode Island has the 
second highest per capita National Guard deployment rate of all the 
States. It has fulfilled over 5,600 deployment requests, and many of 
its 3,200 members have deployed multiple times. In addition, the Rhode 
Island National Guard remains an indispensable asset in protecting the 
lives and property of Rhode Island citizens. The Guard played an 
instrumental role in 2010 responding to the historic floods in our 
State, from which we are still recovering. Today, the diverse mission 
of the Rhode Island National Guard is directed by MG Kevin R. McBride, 
adjutant general of the State of Rhode Island.
  Since September 11, the National Guard has been deployed at 
unprecedented levels, with over 650,000 soldiers and airmen mobilized 
in support of American operations overseas. In addition, thousands of 
National Guard members have responded to the litany of major disasters 
that devastated several areas of the country in the recent years. I 
applaud the National Guard for its vital work in protecting our country 
at home and abroad and commend its 375 years of dedicated service.

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