WHEREAS, on March 24, 1663, the Carolina Charter granted the eight lord proprietors and their officers the right to levy, muster, and train men in order to defend the property and peoples of the Carolinas; and
WHEREAS, for 361 years, the young men and women of our state's militia, and now the Citizen Soldiers and Airmen of the North Carolina National Guard, have been trusted by their neighbors to bear arms in defense of liberty, state, and nation, and have performed with courage and discipline in the finest tradition of the minutemen; and
WHEREAS, these Citizen Soldiers and Airmen have fought the enemies of the United States for more than three centuries, participating in conflicts ranging from the American Revolutionary War to the Global War on Terror; and
WHEREAS, many thousands of North Carolina's men and women have given the last full measure of devotion to the patriot's cause and paid the ultimate sacrifice for their state and nation; and
WHEREAS, our North Carolina National Guard servicemembers continue to serve and protect the lives and property of North Carolinians; and
WHEREAS, the State of North Carolina commends the Citizen Soldiers and Airmen of the North Carolina National Guard, their families, and their employers for their sacrifice and dedication to protecting the freedoms we hold dear; and
WHEREAS, the State of North Carolina joins our communities; businesses; religious, civic and other private organizations; and local and state government leaders in thanking our Citizen Soldiers and Airmen for living their motto: Always Ready, Ready Team;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, ROY COOPER, Governor of the State of North Carolina, do hereby proclaim March, 2024, as “NORTH CAROLINA NATIONAL GUARD HERITAGE MONTH” and March 24, 2024, as “NORTH CAROLINA NATIONAL GUARD OFFICIAL BIRTHDAY” in North Carolina, and commend its observance to all citizens.