Missouri celebrates National Guard's 373rd Birthday

By: Rachel Knight
Missouri National Guard Public Affairs

Brig. Gen. Stephen Danner uses a saber to cut the birthday cake during the ceremony.
U.S. Rep. Ike Skelton was the special guest speaker for the evening's event. He told some of the history that got the Guard where it is today and that will make it strong for years to come.
Emcee Lt. Col. Mike Fayette speaks about the National Guard's 373 year history.
U.S. Rep. Ike Skelton receives a plaque from Brig. Gen. Stephen Danner that says 100 percent American Soldier - National Guard.
The Human Resources Command's Honor Guard posted the colors during the 373rd Missouri National Guard Birthday Ball.
A table for one is set to remember the service members who are missing in action or prisoners of war.
The Human Resources Command's Honor Guard set a table to signify the missing Soldiers that were unable to attend the ceremony or come home because they are prisoners of war or missing in action. Five hats and five flags represented each branch of service.
LAKE OZARK, Mo. - Missouri celebrated the National Guard's 373rd birthday with a formal ball at the Lake of the Ozarks where more than 380 Citizen-Soldiers, Airman, Families and distinguished guests gathered to recognize the organization for many great accomplishment from 1636 to 2009.

"This was a wonderful opportunity to celebrate our history, and demonstrate our continued commitment to the Soldiers, Airmen, Families, and civilian employees who make our National Guard strong," said Brig. Gen. Stephen Danner, adjutant general of the Missouri National Guard.

The theme of the ball was past, present and future depicted by speakers for each era. Nowhere was that theme clearer than in the words of the event's keynote speaker, U.S. Rep. Ike Skelton. During his remarks, Skelton thanked the Citizen-Soldiers and Airmen for their service and sacrifice.

"I'm downright proud of you," said Skelton, chairman of the House Armed Services Committee. "You don't have to wear the uniform. Your Families don't have to see you go."

The head of the House Armed Services Committee, Skelton has represented Missouri since 1977 and served on the committee since 1980. During that time, he had an integral part of bringing the Army Engineer School to Fort Leonard Wood and the B-2 Stealth bomber to Whiteman. He has also been one of the Guard's most vocal supporters.

"We've come a long way from where you were since I joined the committee," Skelton said.

Over his tenure, he has had the opportunity to visit troops in Iraq, Afghanistan, Kosovo, England and in armories throughout Missouri. Skelton said he has fond memories of the Guard, including casting the deciding vote to confirm the state's longest serving adjutant general, retired Missouri Lt. Gen. Charles M. Kiefner.

Danner also reflected on the Guard's past. Based on the English tradition of the Citizen-Soldier, the earliest Guard unit was established as a defense force for the Massachusetts Bay Colony.

In the Guard's 373 years of unbroken history, its Soldiers and Airmen maintained the same standard of excellence as their active duty brethren. To ensure that professionalism continues into the future, Danner said Missouri is reviewing how its leadership is chosen through reviewing officer selection and the enlisted promotion system. The Missouri Guard has also streamlined overall organizational command and control with a new command structure.

To be successful on the battlefield, though, the Guard has to help its Soldiers and Airmen succeed on the civilian side. To that end, Danner is working with Gov. Jay Nixon to launch a program to help Guardsmen and other Veterans find jobs before, during or after deployments.

The "Show-Me Heroes" program offers a $4,500 tax credit to those who are willing to employ returning Guardsmen. The program will work with communities and chambers of commerce to ensure employment opportunities are there for Guard members.

"Gov. Nixon is fully committed to supporting Missouri military members," Danner said.

In addition to the adjutant general's live remarks, Danner unveiled a new program in the form of a command message. In the taped remarks, Danner and his wife, Katie, introduced a holiday command message that will be shown to the troops serving overseas in Iraq and Afghanistan. Danner personally thanked Carter Ward, executive director of Missouri School Boards Association, and his staff for producing the video and providing support during the ball.

Music was provided by the Missouri Air National Guard Band of the Central States, stationed at Lambert Field. The Human Resources Command honor guard, an active duty unit, posted and retired the colors for the evening's events and provided a special tribute to fallen comrades.

For more information about the Missouri National Guard, please call 1-800-GoGuard or visit www.moguard.com, www.facebook.com/Missouri.National.Guard, www.twitter.com/Missouri_NG, www.youtube.com/MoNationalGuard, and www.myspace.com/missouri_ng.