RALEIGH – With more than 6,250 North Carolina National Guard soldiers and airmen on federal active duty at home and around the world, the National Guard celebrated its 367th birthday Dec. 13.

In marking the anniversary for the nation's oldest military arm, Gov. Mike Easley issued his annual proclamation making Dec. 13 "National Guard Day" in North Carolina and called on all citizens of the state to honor North Carolinians who wear our nation's uniform as part of the National Guard.

This year, North Carolina leads all other states and territories in the number of soldiers and airmen answering the call to federal active duty. N.C. Guard members are on duty throughout Southwest Asia, including places such as Baghdad, Iraq, and Bagram, Afghanistan. Several have been wounded. One, Staff Sgt. Bobby Franklin of the 210th Military Police Company, was killed Aug. 20 while on patrol in Baghdad.

North Carolina's 30th Heavy Separate Brigade (Armor) was officially put on active duty Oct. 1 when it began training for duty in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. The call-up marks the largest mobilization of North Carolina National Guard troops since World War Two. The brigade is expected to deploy overseas sometime in the February to April timeframe.

Since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, the North Carolina National Guard has been heavily engaged in just about every aspect of the war on terror at home and abroad. Some units, like the 211th Military Police Company, 139th Rear Operations Center and elements of the 145th Airlift Wing, have been called to duty at least twice in less than two years.

In addition, the Guard has answered the call to state duty for a severe winter storm, and, most recently, to help the people of Eastern North Carolina in the wake of Hurricane Isabel. The North Carolina Air National Guard also fought the California forest fires with its Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System-equipped C-130H Hercules cargo planes.

The Guard remains committed to the roots it planted nearly 400 years ago on the village green of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Since that time, the citizens who fill its ranks have protected the lives, liberty and property of friends, family and neighbors. Though technology, weapons and geography may have changed, the mission remains the same.