The National Guard Association annual Conference: Celebrating California National Guard History, Culture and Future
The National Guard Association of California (NGAC) Conferences celebrates “History, culture, and the future” in the San Luis Obispo areas Dec. 6-7 as we position our organization for success in 2020 and beyond.
As we approach Dec. 13 — the 383rd Birthday of the National Guard, It’s fitting that we introduce the production of a new film by Storyteller Original Films in conjunction with A Time to Kill Productions, entitled “Citizen Soldiers – The History of the National Guard”. This announcement is even more significant considering the fact that in attendance will be California National Guard Adjutant General, Maj. Gen. David S. Baldwin and National Guard Association of the United States (NGAUS) President Brig. Gen. Roy Robinson to represent the Golden State and all National Guard communities respectively.
Representatives from the California State Military Department, the Employer Support of the National Guard (ESGR), the Association of the United States Army (AUSA), and the California State Commanders Veterans Council (CSCVC) will address one of the most ominous threats to our military family: suicidal ideation; and introduce their collective “Eradicate Military Suicides by 2022 Campaign plan” to break alarming rate, according to the Veterans Administration, of 22 suicides per day. Experts from the medical, theraputical, and religious communities will speak to reducing the outside stresses contributing to military suicides.
The NGAC symbolically lifts the stigma associated with suicidal ideation at the Faces of Freedom War Memorial Friday, 1:00 p.m., 8038 Portola Rd, Atascadero, CA 93422, with the laying of a wreath for White Star “Military” Families whose loved ones succumbed to suicide. The public is invited. In a special tribute on the eve of the Peral Harbor anniversary, Former Commander of the California Army National Guard, Historian, and Author Maj. Gen. (Retired) John Harrell recounts the 40th Infantry Division’s World War II “Rattle Snake” activation, deployment, and exploits, and the Atascadero Veterans Memorial Foundation Camp Roberts History Museum and Cal Poly Reserve Officers Training Course (ROTC), provides ceremonial and historical backdrop for the wreath-laying to commemorate Peral Harbor and all servicemen and veterans.
Tributes are topped off at Camp San Luis Obispo’s Maj. Gen. Willard A. Shank Hall Friday night, with Story Teller Original Film’s Richard Jellerson’s showing of “A Solemn Promise, America’s Missing in Action.” On Saturday morning, Dec. 7, Maj. Gen. Baldwin addresses the California National Guard’s future and how the NGAC and conferees can come together to help reinforce a “Peace through strength force” prepared to meet our most lethal geopolitical military threats of our time.
