Photos by DeWaine Duncan
The men and women who make up the contemporary National Guard are the nation’s modern-day minutemen. They are citizen soldiers, many with full-time jobs and families, who are ready and willing to put their lives on hold at a moment’s notice — and even sacrifice them, if necessary — to help defend state and country or launch rescue and cleanup efforts following natural disasters and civil unrest.
The National Guard is the military reserve organization of the U.S. Armed Forces, consisting of the Army National Guard and Air National Guard. The Guard is based in each of the 50 states, in addition to the District of Columbia and U.S. territories Puerto Rico, Guam and the Virgin Islands.
The Arkansas National Guard dates back to the creation of the state’s Territorial Militia in 1804, and the Arkansas National Guard Foundation exists to support Guard members, veterans and survivors while improving the overall readiness of the Guard itself.
The foundation operates around six project initiatives:…