Tony Thurmond: “the United States gained its freedom from our colonial masters in a bloody and hard fought war for independence. By the…”

“the United States gained its freedom from our colonial masters in a bloody and hard fought war for independence. By the end of our 8-year struggle with the Crown, the young United States possessed the Continental Army, the force that ultimately defeated the English, but in 1776, it was ordinary men who grabbed weapons and first fired on the redcoats at Lexington. With that ``shot heard 'round the World,'' not only was a blow for freedom struck, but the tradition of the citizen-soldier was hatched, one that remains alive and strong in our Nation today in the form of the National Guard. In cities and towns throughout the United States, one will find armories where men and women, much like their Minuteman forefathers, drill and prepare to meet the missions with which they are tasked. While much about the Guard has changed since the 1700's, muskets have been replaced by M-16A2 rifles and the horse cavalry has been replaced by the M1A2 main battle tank, one thing has remained constant, that those who serve in the Guard are willing to serve selflessly as they come to the aid of their community and work for the defense of the United States.”