ARLINGTON, Va. - The Chief, National Guard Bureau, Gen. Frank Grass, and the National Guard Senior Enlisted Advisor, Chief Master Sgt. Mitchell O. Brush, send the following Independence Day message to the men and women of the United States National Guard.
Two hundred and thirty seven years ago, the Second Continental Congress unanimously passed the document that set the future United States on the course of independence, liberty, freedom, and prosperity. Over these 237 years, the example, prosperity, and military power of the United States has brought and defended the unalienable rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness to not only to Americans, but also millions of people worldwide.
The National Guard of the United States, and the armed forces that descended from the colonial militias that fought and won the War of Independence, have continually defended our country since 1776."
Every member of the National Guard continues to support our freedom by serving in and providing trained and ready operational forces for both national defense and response to catastrophic events.
Our Guardsmen today are providing enhanced accountability and working toward fully effective stewardship of Guard resources. At the same time, these loyal Americans support and sustain the National Guard community, its members and their employers.
These Guardsmen work constantly to analyze future threats to our free nation, work to develop new opportunities to serve the nation and maintain a proven operational reserve force capable of meeting all challenges.
The National Guard is proud to serve the people of the United States and its role in establishing the freedoms we will celebrate this July 4th." We salute all the men and women of the National Guard, the founding fathers of our free nation, and the citizens who make this country so great.