Courtesy Photo | Sgt. Maj. of the Army Daniel A. Dailey displays his honorary membership certificate...... read more read more
ALLENTOWN, Pa.– Sgt. Maj. of the Army Daniel A. Dailey spoke at the 77th Honorary First Defenders Business Meeting and Dining-In at the Best Western Lehigh Valley Conference Center in Bethlehem April 15 and became an honorary member of the organization.
Dailey spoke to those in attendance, including many members of the Pennsylvania Army National Guard’s 213th Regional Support Group, about the significance of organization’s heritage.
The 213th Regional Support Group traces its lineage back to the Allen Rifles, one of the five companies that made up the original First Defenders, and houses the 213th Regiment (First Defenders) museum in its armory in Allentown. The 213th Regional Support Group is among the many units supported by the Honorary First Defenders.
The Honorary First Defenders continues the legacy of those brave militiamen that answered the call long ago, Dailey said. They tell the story so that Americans can understand and never forget that what they have is given to them by ordinary people, he continued.
“And, maybe, just maybe, these stories and memories, and [the Honorary First Defenders’] commitment to preserving their history will inspire just one - perhaps just one person to say, ‘Send me,’” said Dailey.
Founded in 1938, the Honorary First Defenders is comprised of both current and retired military as well as civilian members. Membership is limited to only 213 members and ten provisional members at any time, although others may support.
They support various military branches and components throughout the Leigh Valley including units from the Army National Guard, Army Reserve, Navy Reserve, Marine Reserve, and Coast Guard, by encouraging maintenance of high standards of performance and contributing to the comfort and convenience of their members.
213th Regional Support Group’s Command Sgt. Maj. Matthew Hensinger, who is one of the 213 official members of the Honorary First Defenders said, “It’s a great distinction for our organization to have the Sergeant Major of the Army be our keynote speaker and become an honorary member; his remarks tied the sacrifice of our forebears to the Soldiers of today who still remain ready to serve at a moment’s notice.”
The dual mission of the Honorary First Defenders is to: preserve the memory of the First Defenders, the Soldiers of Pennsylvania who were the first to reach Washington in answer to President Lincoln’s call to defend the Capitol on April 18, 1861, and to promote community interest in matters of National Defense by lending support to the programs of selected military reserve units in the area, including Army National Guard, Army Reserve, Navy Reserve, Marine Reserve, and Coast Guard, by encouraging maintenance of high standards of performance and contributing to the comfort and convenience of their members.
For more information "like" the 213th Regional Support Group on Facebook at www.facebook.com/213RSG and visit the Honorary First Defender’s website at: http://www.honoraryfirstdefenders.com .
| Date Taken: | 05.17.2016 |
| Date Posted: | 05.17.2016 09:00 |
| Story ID: | 198338 |
| Location: | ALLENTOWN, PA, US |
| Web Views: | 700 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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