Here's how you know
 **Official websites use .mil** .mil
 **Secure .mil websites use HTTPS** lock () https://


Skip to main content (Press Enter).
 Toggle navigation
            
            
            
            
            National Guard
                        Always Ready Always There
                    National Guard
            
            Search National Guard:
                        Search
                    Search
                        Search National Guard:
                            Search
    Home

    News
    
        Guard News

    Overseas Operations

    State Partnership Program

    News Features

    RSS Feeds

    Press Releases

    Transcripts

    Features
    
        Features by Year

    Posture Statement

    State Partnership Program

    Special Features

    About the Guard
    
        How We Began

    Air National Guard

    Army National Guard    
    
        DEERS Soldier Journey

    Leader Development Program

    History and Heritage

    I am the Guard

    NGB Official March

    Leadership
    
        CNGB

    VCNGB

    SEA

    DANG

    DARNG

    Joint Staff    
    
        J-1

    J-2

    J-3

    J-4

    J-5

    J-6

    J-7

    J-8

    Personal Staff    
    
        Inspector General

    General Counsel

    Public Affairs

    Executive Support Services

    Legislative Liaison

    Special Staff    
    
        National Guard Office of Special Victims' Counsel

    Office of the Provost Marshal

    Office of the Joint Surgeon

    Director of Acquisitions

    Small Business Programs

    Chaplain

    Senior Leader Management Office

    Diversity Equity Inclusion

    Comptroller

    Resources    
        National Defense Strategy Implementation Guidance

    Community Engagement

    FOIA

    Fact Sheets

    Helpful Links

    Image Gallery
    
        News Images

    Graphics

    Historical Paintings

    Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

    Legislative Liaison

    Small Business Programs

    Social Media

    State Websites

    Videos    
    
        Featured Videos

    On Every Front

    2019 Videos

    2020 Videos

    2021 Videos

    Suicide Prevention

    Family Programs

    Environmental

    Trial Defense Service

    Holistic Wellness Challenge

    Contact Us  Home
  News
  Article View
 
 NEWS
 Guardsmen Honor Black History Month with Reflections on Crisis at Little Rock Central High By Capt. Chris Heathscott
                Arkansas National Guard State Public Affairs Office
 Program offers a review of the past, insight on the present LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - In partnership with the City of Little Rock's Racial and Cultural Diversity Commission, a crowd of Guardsmen gathered Tuesday, Feb. 21, in celebration of Black History Month. The agenda for the program offered a look back to 50 years prior, when the Arkansas Guard was called to state active duty as a result of the Federal District Court ordering the Little Rock School District to proceed with plans for integration. On Sept. 2, 1957, Governor Orval Faubus ordered the Arkansas National Guard to Little Rock Central High School because he claimed evidence "that there is imminent danger of tumult, riot and breach of peace and the doing of violence to persons and property." According to a history of the Arkansas National Guard, a force of 280 Soldiers created a perimeter around the school, refusing entry to nine African American students, telling them to return home. The events eventually led up to the federalization of the entire Arkansas National Guard by President Dwight D. Eisenhower. By order of the president, the Guard was now directed to support the integration rather than block it as was directed by the state. During Tuesday's program, Maj. Gen. William D. Wofford, the adjutant general of the Arkansas, spoke to those in attendance, and offered a reading of an annex to operation order number one that called the Guard to duty. "Our mission is to enforce the orders of the Federal Court with respect to the attendance at the public schools of Little Rock, of all those who are properly enrolled and to maintain law and order while doing so," he read to the crowd. "Our individual feelings toward those court orders should have no influence on our execution of the mission." Wofford, who was eight years old during the crisis, reemphasized the last sentence he had just read. "Our personal feelings have no influence on the execution of the mission," he said, stressing the role of a Soldier. "That's the way it was in 1957, that's the way it is today."
	Wofford expressed his initial reluctance to speak on a topic that he considered "a blemish on the history and reputation of the state of Arkansas," yet expressed the significance of the event with great respect. "This was a monumental event in the history of our state," said the general. "There were nine young men and women brave enough to stand up to their fears. It changed the world. Their actions changed Arkansas." The president of the Little Rock Central High School Student Body, Brandon Love, stepped up to the podium next as the program's guest speaker. In a written parallel to Charles Dickens' book *A Tale of Two Cities*, Love stood before the crowd and presented his story referencing the continuing challenge of racism. Love's version of Dickens' tale,*A Tale of Two Centrals,* described the continuing separation between black and white America. "The world watched nine African American students make history by desegregating the state's premiere high school in the face of open hostility," Love said as he spoke the words he wrote in a test for college entry into Vanderbilt University. "Escorted by the National Guard, these students walked the halls of what is now a national historic site and endured hardships that I can only begin to imagine. Today I walk the same halls walked by the Little Rock Nine." Love went on to describe the day to day racial challenges of current day Little Rock Central€¦challenges which unfortunately are not housed solely within the walls of this infamous schoolhouse. Just as obstacles faced by the Little Rock Nine were met by changes in the late 50's, Love's story described how he overcame the often ignored racial challenges and separations of today to gain a good education from a great institution. "I can honestly say. It was the best of times. It was the worst of times," said Love.
 SHARE
 PRINT
 
 Pennsylvania Army Guardsmen Complete Combat Lifesaver Course
 By Sgt. 1st Class Shane Smith,
  38th Infantry Division Soldiers Conduct Warfighter Exercise
 By Master Sgt. Jeff Lowry,
  Puerto Rico Air National Guard Trains at Red Flag-Alaska
 By 156th Wing
  More
 Pennsylvania Army Guardsmen Complete Combat Lifesaver Course Guard News • 5 hours ago
 38th Infantry Division Soldiers Conduct Warfighter Exercise Guard News • 13 hours ago
 Puerto Rico Air National Guard Trains at Red Flag-Alaska Guard News • 13 hours ago
 Air National Guard Conducts Sentry Savannah Exercise Guard News • yesterday
 Hawaii Air National Guard Hosts Sentry Aloha Joint Exercise Guard News • yesterday
 2024 (196)  2023 (427)  2022 (526)  2021 (697)  2020 (936)  2019 (387)  2018 (323)  2017 (346)  2016 (245)  2015 (356)  2014 (399)  2013 (469)  2012 (556)  2011 (533)  2010 (1071)  2009 (357)  2008 (638)  2007 (295)  2006 (188)
 Home
 Site Map
 Privacy & Security Policy
 Link Disclaimer
 Web Policy
 DOD Information Quality
 DOD Open GovernmentFOIA
 No FEAR Act
 Accessibility/Section 508
 Contact Us
 Army Guard Careers
 Air Guard Careers
 USA.gov
                    
Staying Connected
    XYouTubeFlickrFacebookInstagram
                 
                
                

Hosted by Defense Media Activity - WEB.mil