Thursday, June 19, 2008

Army goes rollin’ along

Photo by Marny Malin-Living history groups, which portrayed Army color guards from various eras of the nation’s history, stand in formation in front of Abbot Hall. The post celebrated the 233rd Army Birthday and the 131st national observance of Flag Day June 12.

Fort Belvoir celebrated the 233rd Army Birthday and the 131st national observance of Flag Day with a ceremony in front of Abbot Hall June 12.

Living history groups portrayed Army color guards from various eras of the nation’s history.

The 1st Virginia Regiment, part of the Continental Army, displayed the Virginia flag.

The Fort McHenry Guard, representing the U.S. Corps of Artillery, carried a flag with 15 stars and stripes that flew over Fort McHenry and inspired Francis Scott Key to write the National Anthem.

Representing the regular Army during the Civil War another group bore the National Color of the 4th U.S. Infantry and the Regimental Color of the 2nd U.S. Infantry.

The 51st Engineer Combat Battalion displayed the National Flag, with 48 stars, before Alaska and Hawaii joined the Union.

The Headquarters Battalion color guard carried the current National Colors with 50 stars, the Army flag, and its own organizational colors.

The U.S. Army had its beginnings in local militia groups formed to protect the colonies. The Continental Congress created the Continental Army when
conflict between the colonists and Great Britain heightened.

The Continental Army, led by Gen. George Washington, fought the War of Independence from 1775 to 1783. It was disbanded after independence was won.
The Army was kept small under President Thomas Jefferson’s influence to avoid involvement in foreign conflicts, but the Civil War in1861 brought bloodshed
to our own soil once again. The war brought mass conscription, trench warfare and modern warfare tactics.

From it’s original small beginnings, to it’s peak of 12 million in World War II, the United States has been involved in more than 24 military actions that have occurred all over the world.

Each year, the birthday of the Stars and Stripes is celebrated on June 14.

In 1777, the Second Continental Congress authorized a new flag to symbolize the nation. Washington explained the symbolism of the components as
follows, “We take the stars from heaven. The red from our mother country, separating by white stripes showing that we have separated from her, and the white stripes shall go down to prosperity representing liberty.”