3X5 FT COL NYL-GLO NATIONAL GUARD FRG

US ARMY NATIONAL GUARD FLAG FACTS

THE ARMY NATIONAL GUARD DEPICTING A MINUTEMAN IN A LIGHT BLUE CIRCLE INSIDE A DARKER BLUE CIRCLE WITH THE WORDS ARMY NATIONAL GUARD AND FIVE WHITE STARS IN BOTTOM HALF OF CIRCLE IS CENTERED ON A WHITE FIELD.

THE ARMY NATIONAL GUARD IS THE OLDEST BRANCH OF THE U.S. MILITARY ESTABLISHED ON DECEMBER 13, 1636.  THIS DATE IS RECOGNIZED AS THE NATIONAL GUARD BIRTHDAY.  THIS BRANCH ALSO INCLUDES THE AIR NATIONAL GUARD WHICH HAS EXISTED SINCE THE 1920'S AND WAS RECOGNIZED IN 1947.

THE NATIONAL GUARD IS BASED ON THE ENGLISH TRADITION OF THE MILITIA.  IT SPRUNG UP ON THE EAST COAST IN THE EARLY YEARS OF THE COLONIES AND EXPANDED WEST WHEN SETTLERS BEGAN TO SETTLE THE WEST.  THE INHABITANTS ORGANIZED THEMSELVES INTO MILITIA UNITS FOR THEIR OWN DEFENSE AND EVENTUALLY INTO REGIMENTS.  THIS MADE THE MILITIA STRONGER AND MORE EFFICIENT.   THE OLDEST UNITS ARE AMONG THE OLDEST UNITS OF THE U.S. MILITARY AND AMONG THE OLDEST IN THE WORLD.

FOR ALMOST 400 YEARS THE MILITIA, CALLED THE NATIONAL GUARD SINCE 1916, HAS SERVED COMMUNITY, STATE AND NATION. THE CITIZEN SOLDIERS HAVE SERVED IN EVERY WAR SINCE 1637 TO THE PRESENT DAY.

Source  U.S. Army National Guard   www.arng.army.mil