LATHAM-- The National Guard of the United States turns 375 Years old today,Dec. 13. On this day in 1636 the General Court of the Massachusetts Bay Colony passed a law establishing formal militia companies in the colony. These companies were made up of all adult males older than 16 and were expected to meet and train in military skills regularly.In New York, the first citizen-soldiers were members of the Burgher Guard, organized by the Dutch East Indian Company in 1640 to help protect New Amsterdam from their English neighbors in Massachusetts and Virginia or from hostile natives.
Citizen soldiers of the militia and National Guard have fought in all of America’s wars from King Philips War against Native Americans in the New England Colonies in 1675 to the struggle in Afghanistan today.
DMNA Press Releases
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Times Union -- Wed, 29 Oct 2025 Duty Calls : Iraq veterans reunite One hundred New York Army National Guard soldiers who deployed to Iraq with the 42nd Infantry Division in 2005 reunited at the Hilton Hotel in Saratoga Springs. The gathering, organized... (more)
WTEN -- Tue, 21 Oct 2025 State Police K-9 honors fallen NY Guardsman LATHAM, N.Y. (NEWS10) A New York State Police Canine (K-9) Officer was praised for his heroic efforts in a recent drug bust. K-9 J has sniffed out nearly 20 pounds of drugs, including fentanyl... (more)
Times Union -- Tue, 21 Oct 2025 New York bill would restrict outside National Guard from entering state ALBANY Democrats in New York introduced a bill Monday that would prohibit other states, territories or districts from sending their National Guard troops to the Empire State without approval... (more)