An official website of the United States government
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Home : News : Article View
NEWS | Dec. 6, 2018

D.C. National Guard supports funeral of George H.W. Bush

By Staff Sgt. Anthony Small District of Columbia National Guard

WASHINGTON – District of Columbia National Guard (DCNG) Soldiers and Airmen provided security, transportation and disaster response capabilities during the state funeral held at the Washington National Cathedral for the 41st President of the United States, George H.W. Bush on Wednesday.

The DCNG joined with multiple agencies including the D.C. Homeland Security Emergency Management Agency, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Metropolitan Police Department, Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, D.C. Fire and Emergency Medical Services and the U.S. Park Police to provide safety and security for people attending activities in and around the National Capital Region during the event.

"This joint mission is important because we provide unique force protection enhancements during the state funeral," said U.S. Army Lt. Col. Malik Freeman, DCARNG 74th Troop Command deputy commander. "Vehicle operators are driving 5-ton cargo vehicles to provide enhanced mobile force protection assets to assist with motorcade operations. Our team has the opportunity to be a part of history by ensuring that the state funeral is safe and secure."

Members of the DCNG's Multi-agency Augmentation Command (MAC) also served as funeral escorts for 18 state governors who attended the state funeral as part of a governor escort mission.

According to U.S. Army Maj. Mark Ballantyne, operations officer and mission planner with the MAC, the governor escort mission is one of the national special security events that the unit spends months preparing for to ensure that its members are always ready at a moment's notice.

"The goal is to make it look like it was easy…because then that means we did our job right," Ballantyne said. "This is the culmination of planning over eighteen months in preparation for a state funeral for a president if and when it happens."

Soldiers and Airmen from the DCNG's 33rd Civil Support Team (CST) also joined with the Virginia National Guard's 34th CST to support interagency teams throughout the District with chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosive detection and response capabilities as part of the force protection package.

 

 

Related Articles
Photo of medical training during a Port Subject Matter Expert Exchange at the Port of Laem Chabang, Thailand, August 20, 2025. (Courtesy Photo)
Washington Guard Continues Strengthening Relationship at Thailand’s Port of Laem Chabang
By Joseph Siemandel, | Sept. 30, 2025
CAMP MURRAY, Wash. - Four members of the Washington National Guard partnered recently with more than 170 employees from the Port of Laem Chabang, Thailand, to continue improving the port’s all-hazard response as part of the...

Leaders and attendees from the Hawai‘i National Guard, Guam National Guard and Armed Forces of the Philippines gather for a group photo during the 25th anniversary celebration of the State Partnership Program between the Hawai‘i National Guard and the AFP at Clark Air Base, Philippines, Sept. 25, 2025. The Hawai‘i Guard and AFP launched the Indo-Pacific’s first State Partnership in 2000, marking 25 years of cooperation in training, disaster response and regional security.
25 Years Strong: Hawai‘i Guard and Philippines Celebrate Enduring Partnership
By Master Sgt. Mysti Bicoy, | Sept. 30, 2025
CLARK AIR BASE, Philippines — Cheers, handshakes and shared stories filled the air Sept. 23–25 as the Hawai‘i National Guard and Armed Forces of the Philippines celebrated 25 years of partnership — a bond that has endured...

Oklahoma National Guard leaders and Italian representatives unveil a plaque at the former headquarters of the 45th Infantry Division during WWII in Venafro, Italy, Sept. 8, 2025. A delegation of Oklahoma National Guard members and veterans toured key locations from the 45th Infantry Division’s campaign in Italy against German forces during World War II, continuing the development of the Thunderbird Trail. The initiative is aimed at preserving the Division's role in World War II through a memorial trail tracing its footsteps through Italy, France and Germany, ensuring their sacrifices are never forgotten. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Danielle Rayon)
Thunderbird Trail: Preserving Sacrifice, Strengthening Connection for Oklahoma Guard
By Sgt. Danielle Rayon, | Sept. 29, 2025
ITALY – Standing among rows of white marble headstones at the Sicily-Rome American Cemetery and Memorial, Soldiers of the Oklahoma National Guard bent to place sand from the beaches of Anzio into the carved names of...