National Guard's 150th birthday - KOTA Territory News
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The South Dakota National Guard has been around longer than the state itself, and 150 years of service is something to celebrate.
Singing happy birthday and cutting the cake was only half the fun. The party also allowed men and women who serve or once served in the guard to be honored.
Governor Dennis Daugaard and Major General Timothy Reisch both gave their thanks to the South Dakota National Guard.
Daugaard says that after all the flooding the state experienced last year, he is especially grateful.
"When the National Guard rolled into town to help those flood victims it was just wonderful and those who felt despair and discouragement they had their spirits up lifted. So why not celebrate their birthday?" said Daugaard.
Major General Reisch says that he is really impressed with all the people in the guard in South Dakota and proud to be a part of it all.
"The patriotism of our young people and our veterans is just remarkable to me and so I'm the biggest cheerleader this organization's got," said Reisch.
The National Guard is the only leg of the military that serves both federal and state roles. Natural disasters the SDNG has assisted with include the Rapid City Flood of 1972, the Spencer Tornado of 1997, and Hurricane Katrina.
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