IIB 

112TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 1339 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

MARCH 29, 2012 

Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services 

AN ACT 

To designate 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, 


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1 SECTION 1. OFFICIAL DESIGNATION OF SALEM, MASSA2 CHUSETTS, AS THE BIRTHPLACE OF THE NA3 TIONAL GUARD OF THE UNITED STATES. 

4 (a) FINDINGS.—Congress makes the following find5 ings: 

6 (1) In 1629, Captain John Endicott organized 

7 the first militia in the Massachusetts Bay Colony in 

8 Salem. 

9 (2) The colonists had adopted the English mili10 tia system, which required all males between the 

11 ages of 16 and 60 to possess arms and participate 

12 in the defense of the community. 

13 (3) In 1636, the Massachusetts General Court 

14 ordered the organization of three militia regiments, 

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

16 (4) These regiments drilled once a week and 

17 provided guard details each evening to sound the 

18 alarm in case of attack. 

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

20 101st Engineer Battalion, assembled as a regiment 

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

22 marking the beginning of the Massachusetts Na23 tional Guard and the National Guard of the United 

24 States. 


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

2 Cadets (101st and 102nd Field Artillery) has cele3 brated the anniversary of that first muster. 

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

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

6 National Guard continues its historic mission of pro7 viding units for the first line defense of the United 

8 States and current missions throughout the world. 

9 (8) The designation of the City of Salem, Mas10 sachusetts, as the Birthplace of the National Guard 

11 of the United States will contribute positively to 

12 tourism and economic development in the city, create 

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

14 communities. 

15 (b) DESIGNATION OF SALEM, MASSACHUSETTS, AS

16 NATIONAL GUARD BIRTHPLACE.—In light of the findings 

17 made in subsection (a), the City of Salem, Massachusetts, 

18 is hereby designated as the Birthplace of the National 

19 Guard of the United States. 

20 (c) RESPONSIBILITIES.— 

21 (1) MILITARY CEREMONIAL SUPPORT.—The 

22 Chief of the National Guard Bureau, in conjunction 

23 with the Secretary of the Army, the Secretary of the 

24 Air Force, the Council of Governors, and the Adju25 tant General of the State of Massachusetts, shall 


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HR 1339 RFS

1 provide military ceremonial support at the dedication 

2 of any monument, plaque, or other form of official 

3 recognition placed in Salem, Massachusetts, cele4 brating the designation of Salem, Massachusetts, as 

5 the Birthplace of the National Guard of the United 

6 States. 

7 (2) FUNDING SOURCE.—Federal funds may not 

8 be used to design, procure, prepare, install, or main9 tain any monument, plaque, or other form of official 

10 recognition placed in Salem, Massachusetts, cele11 brating the designation of Salem, Massachusetts, as 

12 the Birthplace of the National Guard of the United 

13 States, but the Adjutant General of the State of 

14 Massachusetts may accept and expend contributions 

15 of non-Federal funds for this purpose. 

Passed the House of Representatives March 28, 

2012. 

Attest: KAREN L. HAAS, 

Clerk. 


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