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Blacksmith forges small tokens of thanks for USA's heroes
January 2, 2019
Since the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, Randy Dack, a blacksmith at Grand Island’s Stuhr Museum in Nebraska, has made more than 4,000 "lucky" horseshoes for military service members worldwide. Dack made his first "Soldier's shoe" for his son prior to his first deployment in 2002 with the Nebraska Army National Guard's 1-134th Cavalry.

Oregon National Guard secures an all-natural defense
January 2, 2019
Solar Panels attached on top of the Armed Forces Reserve Center at Camp Withycombe, in Clackamas, Ore., helped boost the energy savings of the building. Over the previous summer, added panels were added to the building. Even on overcast days, the panels continue to produce power for the building, helping save on energy cost for the Oregon National Guard.

Bound by blood, brothers serve in military by choice
December 28, 2018
Col. David Mendoza, deputy commander of inpatient services, William Beaumont Army Medical Center, with fraternal twin brother, Maj. James Mendoza, human resources officer, 79th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, a California Army National Guard unit out of San Diego, during a chance meeting at Fort Bliss, Dec. 4, 2018. The Mendoza brothers have served in the U.S. Army, Army Reserves and National Guard since graduating high school, rarely seeing each other.

Maine Air Wing has been big on family ties since its beginning
December 26, 2018
Staff Sgts. Erica Blanchette and Alyssa Nelson pose for a photo Dec. 20, 2018, at Bangor National Guard Base, Maine. The sisters, who are also identical twins, swore in eight months apart.

Glens Falls' Christmas Eve Road March continues for 15th year
December 26, 2018
Retired New York Army National Guard Sgt. 1st Class Arthur Coon, center in red jacket, steps off for the 15th annual Christmas Eve Road March in Glens Falls, N.Y., Dec. 24, 2018. Coon has organized the annual event to honor deployed service members since 2004 when Soldiers from the New York Army National Guard were deployed to Iraq.

Santa tracking all began as a newspaper ad error
December 20, 2018
Air Force Col. Harry Shoup, the operations officer at North American Aerospace Defense Command’s precursor organization, answered a wrong-number call on Dec. 24, 1955, and began the tradition of NORAD tracking Santa.

New York National Guard artillery troops honor WWII veteran
December 20, 2018
New York Army National Guard Lt. Col. Marc Lindemann, commander of the 1st Battalion, 258th Field Artillery, presents the Military Order of St. Barbara, the patron saint of the Field Artillery, to Army Pfc. Charles A. Brown, in New Windsor, N.Y., Dec. 7, 2018.  Brown served in the 258th Field Artillery during WWII and donated his archives and records of the battalion’s combat actions in 2017 to the unit and the New York State Military History Museum.

New York Air Guard members help NORAD track Santa
December 18, 2018
New York Air National Guards Master Sgt. Shane Reid, front, and Tech. Sgt. Brady King, both of the 224th Air Defense Squadron, train for upcoming Santa tracking operations at the Eastern Air Defense Sector in Rome. A headquarters unit of the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), EADS supports the NORAD Tracks Santa operation every year.

National Guard Bureau chief pens holiday message
December 12, 2018
Gen. Joseph L. Lengyel, chief of the National Guard Bureau, issued his holiday message Dec. 12, 2018.

How is the National Guard 140 years older than the U.S.?
December 12, 2018
Spc. Ashley Hartman cuts the ceremonial birthday cake for the National Guard's 381st birthday alongside Nevada Adjutant General, Brig. Gen. William Burks, left. The Nevada National Guard Joint Forces Headquarters office celebrates the National Guard's birthday every year with the highest and most junior ranking members available as cake cutters.