Starting in 1636, farmers, blacksmiths, and countless other people from all walks of life would put down their implements of work and pick up their muskets and powder to protect their communities, the liberty of their fellow citizens, and to lessen suffering where they found it. The New Hampshire National Guard of today continues that 377-year journey of the original citizen-soldier by responding to help our fellow Granite Staters during times of need today.
2020 was an extraordinary year, probably the most volatile in 100 years. The COVID crisis and all of its unknown elements changed the very way of life for nearly every citizen. Very tough decisions had to be made regarding gaining control of this invisible beast. Lockdowns, school closings, and almost every phase of our day-to-day routines were changed.
While no one can imagine or understand the danger our doctors, nurses, and first responders faced and overcame every day to get control of the silent killer, we also had a group of men and women who stepped up to the challenge and helped in every way possible to stop the spread and destruction of COVID.
The New Hampshire National Guard was everywhere they were needed. When most folks were hunkering down in the safety of their homes, the Guard was distributing Personal Protective Equipment and all the therapeutics necessary for the doctors and nurses on the front line of defense. They supplied telephone coverage to get people the funds to live; they operated mobile testing sites; and now they are helping deliver the vaccine and, in many cases, they are joining other volunteers to put the vaccine in the arms of our fellow Granite Staters.
They did all of this while continuing to deploy to areas of this country and around the world as part of the mission that started 377 years ago to protect their communities, liberty, and to ease suffering wherever they find it. The members of the State Veterans Council are honored to pen this salute to the men and women of the New Hampshire National Guard.
In closing, we would like to ask any of our young men and women of New Hampshire to think about serving in the New Hampshire National Guard. You can stay close to home and still get training and experience that will not only help your fellow citizens, but it will give life experiences that will make you an even better person and the pride of being a veteran. And to that end, let’s all chat with the school leadership in our communities to allow the men and women of the Guard to address the young people in our schools and explain all of the opportunities the Guard has to offer. New Hampshire is indeed blessed to have these Guard members willing to serve this State and Nation anytime anywhere.
(Jim Adams, Brendan Finn, Roger Sevigny and Madeline Dreusicke are State Veterans Council members.)