Fort Christina was the venue for Monday's celebration marking the state Guard’s anniversary. It’s a location where, 360 years ago, in 1655, a group of Dutch invaders set out to attack.
For the first time in Delaware’s history, a citizen-militia made up of Swedish settlers was formed to protect the area. Unfortunately, they couldn’t hold off the invaders for long, because the militia was made up of untrained soldiers.
But more recently, the Delaware National Guard traveled to New Orleans to provide disaster relief in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, and sent units to serve in Iraq and Afghanistan.
"You think about evolution of the guard from the first militia where it was just pick up arms and run to the sound of the cannon- to what you have today, which is you have a wonderfully trained and equipped organization that can respond instantaneously and do the nation’s or the state’s will," said Major General Frank Vavala, the Adjutant General of the state’s National Guard. He spoke at the celebration, along with members of the Congressional Delegation.
"It’s so gratifying to see this continuation of this great citizen soldier, citizen airman legacy."
Governor Jack Markell used the anniversary to sign a proclamation declaring September Hire a Veteran month.
"We’ve made great progress in our state, over the last couple of years for providing more employment opportunities, but we have more to do. And that’s really what this is all about," he told Delaware Public Media after the morning celebration.
He said he hopes the new proclamation will encourage more Delaware businesses to hire those who’ve served in the armed forces.
