News Release - Tag national guard

Why I Serve: How the ‘Meet Up Podcast’ Helps Others Find Purpose in the Pivot
September 15, 2026 — U.S. Army Sgt. Juwan Blocker, and his wife Chakeia are cocreators and hosts of “The Meet Up Podcast,” a show centered on purpose, faith, career uncertainty and the often-uncomfortable process of pivoting and starting over. Launched this year, the podcast features seven episodes in its first season and has become a natural extension of the conversations the Blockers were already having at home—conversations about identity, transition and what comes next when life no longer follows the path you expected...

Never Forgotten: D.C. National Guard Remembers September 11
September 9, 2026 — Brig. Gen. Leland D. Blanchard II, Commanding General (Interim) of the District of Columbia National Guard, delivers a command message from the D.C. Armory marking the 25th anniversary of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. He honors the nearly 3,000 lives lost in New York, at the Pentagon and aboard Flight 93, and reflects on the extraordinary courage of the first responders, service members and civilians who answered the call that day. ...

In the Trenches: Chaplain Edward Lartey’s Life of Service Earns Distinguished Honor
August 28, 2026 — For more than two decades, Chaplain (Maj.) Edward Lartey has built his ministry around one principle: being present when Soldiers and families face their most difficult moments. From combat in Iraq and civil unrest in Washington to hospital rooms where service members took their final breaths, Lartey has sought to be a “chaplain in the trenches,” providing spiritual, emotional and practical support wherever it is needed. His commitment to service earned him the Military Chaplains Association Distinguished Service Award, an honor recognizing excellence in ministry, resilience and operational support. For Lartey, however, the award is not a culmination, but an affirmation of a lifelong calling: “I’ve been called all my life to serve. Since there’s more serving to do, it goes in with my calling and my mission from God.”...

The Capital’s Defenders: 212 Years After Bladensburg, Honoring the Citizen-Soldiers Who Answered the Call
August 24, 2026 — As America celebrates 250 years of independence, the District of Columbia National Guard and Historic Congressional Cemetery gathered Aug. 23 to look back 212 years—to a moment when ordinary citizens answered an extraordinary call and stood in defense of the young nation’s capital during the Battle of Bladensburg...

National Guardsmen Assist in Locating Missing Child
August 16, 2026 — National Guardsmen patrolling near LeDroit Park were approached by a concerned citizen reporting that their 14-year-old daughter was missing...

Year One: Make DC Safe and Beautiful Mission
August 11, 2026 — For 365 days, Soldiers and Airmen from 30 states, territories, and the District of Columbia have answered the call to serve in the nation’s capital as part of Joint Task Force–District of Columbia. But the story of the Make DC Safe and Beautiful mission is more than a timeline of events or a collection of statistics. It is the story of the people...

West Virginia Guardsmen support first responders after Washington shooting
July 30, 2026 — A routine shift change became an emergency response July 29 when a civilian notified West Virginia National Guard Soldiers that two people had been shot near N Street and Fifth Street NW in the Shaw neighborhood. ...

Training Meets Purpose: Arkansas National Guard Soldiers Respond to Civilian Medical Emergency
July 30, 2026 — A presence patrol through the Columbia Metro took an unexpected turn when Soldiers with the Arkansas National Guard responded to a civilian experiencing a medical emergency...

Service Takes the Microphone: Maj. Karen Fraley-Deegan's Mission in Music
July 29, 2026 — Music can inspire, unite, and tell the story of a nation. For U.S. Air Force Maj. Karen Fraley-Deegan, every performance of The Star-Spangled Banner is another act of service—honoring those who have served, those who continue to serve, and the freedoms they protect. From military ceremonies to center court at a Washington Mystics game, this Capital Guardian proves that leadership isn't just heard through commands—sometimes, it's heard through song...

SPB: A One of One Brigade
July 29, 2026 — In the nation's capital, no two missions are exactly alike. One day, Soldiers coordinate with federal agencies to protect critical infrastructure and conduct maritime operations. The next, they support first responders during emergencies or help secure nationally recognized events attended by millions of visitors. Those missions belong to the 260th Special Purpose Brigade (SPB), a one-of-a-kind Army formation that brings military and other law enforcement agencies together...