Happy 372nd Birthday to our comrades in the National Guard. The Seattle Post-Intelligencer writes,

Guard units in the U.S. and its territories trace their heritage to the birth of the first regiments of the Massachussetts militia on Dec. 13, 1636, 16 years after Mayflower Compact and 140 before the Declaration of Independence.

The Massachussetts militia was an adaptation of the English militia system. The “Minutemen” of the Revolutionary War were recruited from that colony’s militia.

The active duty Army, Navy and Marine Corps are comparative whippersnappers, tracing their history to 1775 as the regulars recruited into the Continental Army, Navy and Marines.

If I could, I would give the National Guard for their birthday more personnel and newer equipment. What would you give our National Guard? Again, Happy Birthday to the men and women of the National Guard!