Celebrating The History of the National Guard
Story by Sgt. 1st Class Steven Eaton
The Massachusetts National Guard, joined by Massachusetts Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll, Mayor of Salem, Mayor Dominick Pangallo, elected officials, friends, and families, celebrated the 388th Anniversary of the Salem Muster, Saturday, April 12, 2025, on Salem Green in Salem, Massachusetts.
During this year’s ceremony, Lt. Gov. Driscoll presented the 1st Battalion 182nd Infantry Regiment with the Army Superior Unit Award. The 1-182 received the award for their exceptional service during their deployment in support of Operation Spartan Shield (Enduring Freedom) from July 2022 to March 2023.
“As we all know, we are all over the world, and it was nice to recognize today the 182nd,” said Maj. Gen. Gary Keefe, the Adjutant General of the Massachusetts National Guard. “They were recognized for their excellence and their performance during Spartan Shield,” he added.
In addition, three Soldiers in the 1st Battalion, 181st Infantry Regiment were awarded combat action badges, which they earned during their deployment to the Middle East in 2024. Spc. Jenilton Cardoso, Spc. Duper Thomas, and Spc. Aidan Handville, each received a combat action badge.
These deployments and badges highlighted the sacrifices Guardsmen make.
“No one can do what you do, fight, I’m going to be I’m going to be honest with you. Being on active duty is easy. Being in the guard’s the toughest. You’ve got family. You’ve got a civilian job. And you’ve got a governor as the commander-in-chief and the president as the commander-in-chief. No one does what you can do,” said Keefe. “So, thank you for doing it every day,” he added.
America’s National Guard heritage can be traced back to the First Muster in Salem 387 years ago. Today, National Guardsmen from Salem and throughout Massachusetts continue a tradition of service at home and abroad. The original regiments continue to serve the Massachusetts Army National Guard as the 1st Battalion, 101st Field Artillery Regiment, the 101st Engineer Battalion, the 1st Battalion, 181st Infantry Regiment, and the 1st Battalion, 182nd Infantry Regiment. In January 2013, President Barack Obama signed legislation designating Salem as the birthplace of the National Guard.
“It’s always an honor to be at the First Muster, and it’s always the coldest Saturday in April,” said Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll, lieutenant governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. “It’s a part of Salem’s history that we are proud of, and that’s why we’re here, a collective action of neighbors looking out for neighbors coming together to protect themselves and support this country,” she continued.
On December 13th, 1636, the General Court of the Massachusetts Bay Colony ordered the organization of the Colony’s militia companies into three regiments, specifically the North, South, and East Regiments. The Colonists had adopted the English militia system, which obligated males between the ages of 16 and 60 to possess arms and participate in the defense of the community. The early colonial militia drilled weekly and provided guard details each evening to sound an alarm in case of attack. Strained relations between the Pequot Tribal Nation and the people of the Massachusetts Bay Colony required the militia to maintain a state of readiness. Though the exact date is not known, the First Muster of the East Regiment took place in Salem, Massachusetts in the spring of 1637.
“You have never failed to protect our state and our nation. You’ve never failed to answer the call with care and compassion from combat zones in the most dangerous places on earth to pandemics and floods threatening lives in Massachusetts, to Vulnerable families in need of support. Our Guard is always what we need when we need it,” said Driscoll.
