II 

112TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. 2013 

To amend title 32, United States Code, the body of laws of the United 

States dealing with the National Guard, to recognize the City of Salem, 

Massachusetts, as the Birthplace of the National Guard of the United 

States. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

DECEMBER 16, 2011 

Mr. KERRY introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred 

to the Committee on Armed Services 

A BILL 

To amend title 32, United States Code, the body of laws 

of the United States dealing with the National Guard, 

to recognize the City of Salem, Massachusetts, as the 

Birthplace of the National Guard of the United States. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. OFFICIAL RECOGNITION OF SALEM, MASSA4 CHUSETTS, AS THE BIRTHPLACE OF THE NA5 TIONAL GUARD OF THE UNITED STATES. 

6 (a) FINDINGS.—Congress makes the following find7 ings: 


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1 (1) In 1629, Captain John Endicott organized 

2 the first militia in the Massachusetts Bay Colony in 

3 Salem. 

4 (2) The colonists had adopted the English mili5 tia system, which required all males between the 

6 ages of 16 and 60 to possess arms and participate 

7 in the defense of the community. 

8 (3) In 1636, the Massachusetts General Court 

9 ordered the organization of three militia regiments, 

10 designated as the North, South, and East regiments. 

11 (4) These regiments drilled once a week and 

12 provided guard details each evening to sound the 

13 alarm in case of attack. 

14 (5) The East Regiment, the predecessor of the 

15 101st Engineer Battalion, assembled as a regiment 

16 for the first time in 1637 on the Salem Common, 

17 marking the beginning of the Massachusetts Na18 tional Guard and the National Guard of the United 

19 States. 

20 (6) Since 1785, Salem’s own Second Corps of 

21 Cadets (101st and 102nd Field Artillery) has cele22 brated the anniversary of that first muster. 

23 (7) As the policy contained in section 102 of 

24 title 32, United States Code, clearly expresses, the 

25 National Guard continues its historic mission of proVerDate Mar 15 2010 20:34 Dec 21, 2011 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S2013.IS S2013

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1 viding units for the first line defense of the United 

2 States and current missions throughout the world. 

3 (8) The designation of the City of Salem, Mas4 sachusetts, as the Birthplace of the National Guard 

5 of the United States will contribute positively to 

6 tourism and economic development in the city, create 

7 jobs, and instill pride in both the local and State 

8 communities. 

9 (b) RECOGNITION.—Section 102 of title 32, United 

10 States Code, is amended— 

11 (1) by striking ‘‘In accordance’’ and inserting 

12 ‘‘(a) STATEMENT OF POLICY.—In accordance’’; and 

13 (2) by adding at the end the following new sub14 section: 

15 ‘‘(b) RECOGNITION OF SALEM, MASSACHUSETTS, AS

16 NATIONAL GUARD BIRTHPLACE.—The City of Salem, 

17 Massachusetts, the site of the first muster of a militia 

18 regiment in 1637 in what became the United States, is 

19 hereby recognized as the Birthplace of the National Guard 

20 of the United States.’’. 

Æ 


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