Photo By 1st Sgt. Thaddeus Harrington | More than 100 Soldiers from the Maryland Army National Guard provided a nightly...... read more read more
More than 100 Soldiers from the Maryland Army National Guard provided a security presence over historical landmarks along the National Mall at night in response to civil unrest in the nation’s capital.
“[This protest] is one of those things where it starts off peacefully. And [it] can easily turn violent with a couple of aggressors,” said Staff Sgt. Damon Adams, a member of the 231st Chemical Company, who also served during the 2015 civil unrest in Baltimore.
Adams, a police officer and a Baltimore native, is used to being away from his family due to his past deployments in the Army. However, his time in D.C. was the longest he’s been away from home that his five-year-old son will be able to remember.
“When he gets older, he may realize the importance of it,” Adams added.
Soldiers from the 231st Chemical Company, 253rd Engineer Company, and 581st Troop Command were positioned at the National Museum of African American History and Culture, the Washington Monument, the Lincoln Memorial, the National World War II Memorial, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial, and the Thomas Jefferson Memorial from June 2-6, 2020 when the Maryland National Guard was called upon to assist the District of Columbia National Guard.
The U.S. Park Police requested assistance after memorials were vandalized in the days before they arrived. The three Maryland Guard units selected were not currently engaged in the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic response mission supporting the communities where they live and work.
“[People in D.C. are] under the assumption that because we’re here, we don’t support their movement or right to protest,” said Pvt. Spencer Tilford, a member of the 231st Chemical Company. “These are Americans and we care what they care about.”
The National Guard is uniquely equipped and trained to ensure the citizens of their state are protected during natural disasters or times of civil unrest; as a member of the U.S. Armed Forces, they swore an oath to defend the Constitution and protect the rights of Americans.
According to Capt. Christopher Carmody, commander of the 231st Chemical Company, the MDNG Soldiers completed their mission supporting civilian authorities as the protests remained peaceful.
"I’m excited to be a part of history," said Carmody. "We ensured that the civilians can safely protest and express their First Amendment rights while honoring our monuments."
| Date Taken: | 06.11.2020 |
| Date Posted: | 06.15.2020 16:00 |
| Story ID: | 372095 |
| Location: | WASHINGTON, DC, US |
| Web Views: | 47 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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