DENVER - Today, as the Colorado National Guard celebrated its 150th birthday, Air Force Gen. Craig R. McKinley, chief of the National Guard Bureau, thanked the Soldiers and Airmen in the state and around the country for all that they do.
"I congratulate General Edwards and his fine team ... for this great occasion tonight," McKinley said before the event. "I look forward to being part of the celebration, and I can't thank the men and women of nationally and here in Colorado - enough for what they do."
McKinley also addressed the importance of the National Guard and its origins.
"I carry around a small book called the United States Constitution and ... it's not a stretch to (understand) why we exist," McKinley said. "Because our Founding Fathers - who wrote these great words - wanted us all to remember for posterity, why there is a National Guard.
"In it says, 'To provide for calling forth the militia, to execute the laws of the union, suppress insurections and repel invasions, to provide for organizing, arming and disciplining the militia, and for governing such part of them as maybe employed in the service of the United States reserving to the state respectively the appointment of the officers and the authority of training militia according to the discipline prescribed by Congress.'
So, forever it's written that we shall have a National Guard of the United States, and I'm so proud to be with you on your birthday."