WEBVTT

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(upbeat music)

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- [Narrator] The National Guard has been around

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since 1636.

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The first militia unit regimens in North America

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were started in Massachusetts by hard working

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individuals who wanted to defend their colony.

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Fast forward 379 years and you'll find

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the National Guard and the Air National Guard today

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made up of hard working people who love their country

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and want to share their talents to serve

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our state and defend our homeland.

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At Whiteman Air Force Base,

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the 131st Bomb Wing's maintenance squadron

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is made up of Missouri Air National Guard

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citizen soldiers.

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These men and women work hard in their

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Missouri communities but because of

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that desire to serve their state and country,

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they took the oath and crossed into the blue.

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It's true the standards in the military

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are higher than the civilian world.

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As a member of the Missouri National Guard

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you are tasked with both physically and mentally

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demanding missions.

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You are the backbone to national defense.

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^It takes people like Senior Airman Lawson

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^who is a carpenter by trade but gave

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a piece of his home life away to serve

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his fellow man or let's take Airman First Class Rogers.

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^A college age fellow who decided to give up

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^a little study time and a lot of party time

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and serve in the world's greatest Air Force.

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This, people, is what the Missouri Air National Guard

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is all about.