Celebrating 300: Illinois National Guard holds big birthday bash in Springfield

It was a birthday celebration 300 years in the making, one that not even a little bit of rain could stop.

The Illinois National Guard celebrated their 300th anniversary Saturday with a series of events in Springfield, from a "walking timeline" at the Illinois State Military Museum to downtown events commemorating key strategic war victories spearheaded by the Guard to the invitation-only 300th Birthday Gala at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum.

The official 300th birthday of the Guard will be commemorated May 9 in Kaskaskia, where the very first militia was set up under French auspices in 1723 under the direction of Diron d’Artaguiette, inspector of troops for the French Commandant.

More: Buscher sworn in as mayor, saying she stands 'shoulder to shoulder' with new city council

The existence of the Guard dates back more than 90 years before Illinois even became a state, with militia officers being called into service during the American Revolution and the War of 1812 prior to being admitted into the Union in 1818. Lt. Col. Brad Leighton, public affairs director for the Guard, said that the events in Springfield on Saturday were a good way to educate people on the roots of the their mission while continuing to build for the future.

"We're the only military organization with both a state mission and a federal mission," Leighton said. "A lot of people don't understand that and where it came from. How did this unique organization come up with that state mission?"

For the 300th birthday, the Guard made sure that not only people knew more about the roots, but also about all the major incidents that they have been involved in through the years.

The outdoor "walking timeline" bridged the gap between the Revolutionary War to the War on Terror with a look at how the Guard lived, worked and fought during that time.

The Vietnam War took precedence at Oak Ridge Cemetery, where Col. Shawn Nokes, incoming commander of the 129th Regiment, spoke on connecting veterans from that era to those who served in conflicts ranging from Afghanistan to Iraq to Libya.

Downtown saw representatives from Australia and Belgium arrive to highlight the shared partnerships between the U.S. and each nation and two major events in the Guards history – the Battle of Hamel on July 4, 1918 where American and Australian soldiers fought side by side for the first time and the daring rescue of Belgium's King Leopold from Nazi troops in 1945.

"They stole back a German staff car and slipped through German lines pretending to be a Nazi official and surprised the Germans at the place they were holding the king in Austria," Leighton said. "After the war, anytime he came to the United States, he came and visited his Illinois National Guard rescuers. It took a lot of daring and a lot of bravery to go through enemy lines and rescue the King of Belgium."

In addition to that, booths were set up outside in Union Square Park across from ALPLM that promoted the Guard's many benefits along with showing off some of the equipment. Leighton said that it was vital for the Guard to promote what they do as they celebrate everything that came before.

"COVID-19 really hurt us in recruiting, because at that time, we couldn't get into the schools, there was no social interaction, people were staying in their homes, so you couldn't get the word out on what the Guard has to offer," Leighton said. "The Guard has quite a lot to offer to young men and women – 100% state tuition, great training that you can use in your civilian life – Illinois has some of the most generous benefits of any state in the Union when it comes to the National Guard."

More: 'The total package is Ms. Fox': Fairview Elementary teacher named educator of the year

Schroeder said that events like the ones held on Saturday and throughout the month with school-age children from across the state help to provide a sense of what life was like on the frontlines for the Guard over the course of 300 years, with each reenactor bringing knowledge and a wide range of materials to them to show what it was like.

"Each reenactor stands in front of their table and talks about what they wore, how they made their dinner, what they used to fight and how they fought," Schroeder said. "They're always open for questions, so it's kind of cool (that) you get a one-on-one for that time period with the public."

This article originally appeared on State Journal-Register: Illinois National Guard goes big for 300th birthday celebration