In celebration of the Army's 245th birthday, the Guam Army National Guard's oldest Soldier Col. Mike Cruz, left, and youngest Soldier Pvt. Jayton Penaflor cut the birthday cake during a ceremony at the Guam National Guard Headquarters in Barrigada June 12. (JoAnna Delfin/U.S. Army National Guard)
About a year before America even existed, on June 14th, 1775, the Second Continental Congress formed the Continental Army to protect the rights of the colonists and to unite the original 13 colonies against British tyranny.
“Throughout the last 245 years, our Army has been there to protect defend and serve our people … and I think certainly, as we find ourselves today in a very challenging moment in our history,” Richard Pascoe, civilian aide to the Secretary of the Army, told KUSI.
“The Army has been there every step of the way,” he added, “from a medical perspective, supporting them in the civil unrest and just being there to provide that protection that our citizens deserve and demand.”
Members of the D.C. National Guard stand on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial as demonstrators participate in a peaceful protest against police brutality and the death of George Floyd, on June 2, 2020, in Washington. (Win McNamee/Getty Images)
This has been a “profoundly challenging year,” the U.S. Army noted in a statement, yet soldiers have met those challenges admirably in service of the nation.
The recent riots across the country called for protecting “the American people’s right to peacefully assemble,” the Army stated. “In recent weeks, we have done that.”
Meanwhile, the Army’s response to the coronavirus pandemic has set new a precedent, as they provided augmentation to medical care facilities in the nation’s most stressed cities.
“The United States Army, Army National Guard, and Army Reserve Soldiers helped mount a nationwide response to this crisis that truly embodies their motto of ‘This We’ll Defend,’” the White House stated. “In New York, the United States Army Corps of Engineers created and converted alternate care facilities, providing extra space for thousands of patients.”
In addition to marking the Army’s 245th birthday, 2020 also marks another significant date in Allied military history.
June 6, 1944: U.S. Assault Troops seen here landing on Omaha beach during the Invasion of Normandy. (Keystone/Getty Images)
This year is also the 75th anniversary of the conclusion of World War II, the White House noted—“a monumental struggle between the forces of freedom and tyranny.”
“The historic triumph came at a somber price, as the Army bore the brunt of the fighting—and human cost—of our Nation’s contribution to victory in the war,” the White House added. “[W]e also pause to remember those Soldiers who laid down their lives to defend our freedom and protect their fellow Americans.”
A member of the U.S. Army places an American flag on a grave at Arlington National Cemetery on May 25, 2017, in Arlington, Virginia, in preparation for Memorial Day. (BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP via Getty Images)
Michael Wing is a writer and editor based in Calgary, Canada, where he was born and educated in the arts. He writes mainly on culture, human interest, and trending news.
Friends Read Free