As the United States approaches the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution, the nation reflects on the courage of citizen-soldiers who left their farms and workshops to take up arms against the most powerful empire of the time—Great Britain. These early militiamen fought not just for independence but for their identity and freedom, forging the foundation of the country’s enduring military tradition. Throughout 2025, states and communities across the country will commemorate this historic milestone in their own unique ways.

One such event took place on March 15-16, 2025, at Jamestown Settlement in Virginia, where “Military Through the Ages” (MTA) brought together hundreds of reenactors, historians, and modern military personnel to showcase centuries of military history. Among those representing the present-day military were the Virginia National Guard and the Virginia Defense Force (VDF), who played a vital role in educating the public about the enduring legacy of citizen-soldiers and their contributions to both state and national defense.

A Living Timeline of Military History

For over four decades, Military Through the Ages has provided a unique chronological display of military forces spanning from 500 B.C.E. to the modern day. This year’s event featured reenactment units from eight states, representing historical conflicts ranging from the Greek and medieval periods to the American Revolution, the Napoleonic Wars, the Civil War, and both World Wars. Visitors had the rare opportunity to witness the evolution of military uniforms, weapons, and tactics through live demonstrations and interactive displays.

Modern military units, including the Virginia Army National Guard and the Virginia Defense Force, anchored the timeline in the present day. The 111th Field Artillery and VDF personnel showcased their mission capabilities, military equipment, and historical artifacts, offering attendees a firsthand look at the ongoing service of Virginia’s military forces.

The Virginia Militaries Deep Connection to Jamestown

The Virginia National Guard (VNG) and Defense Force traces its roots back to Jamestown, where Capt. John Smith organized the colonists for defense in 1607. From its earliest days, Virginia has maintained a continuous military presence, defending its people from threats both foreign and domestic. By 1652, the Virginia House of Burgesses had formalized the structure of the colony’s militia, mandating that each county organize its own regiments.

Virginia’s military legacy continued through pivotal moments in history, from the American Revolution and the Civil War to modern conflicts such as World War I, World War II, and the Global War on Terror. The 116th Infantry Regiment, one of the oldest in the National Guard, played a key role in the D-Day invasion at Normandy, where Virginia Guardsmen spearheaded the attack on Omaha Beach. Their sacrifice and bravery cemented the National Guard’s reputation for excellence in combat.

Today, the Virginia National Guard & Defense Force remain active forces in state & national security, with National Guard personnel deployed worldwide in support of military operations and homeland defense missions. In recent years, thousands of Virginia Guardsmen have mobilized for overseas assignments, border security operations, and cybersecurity initiatives.

The Virginia Defense Force: A Vital Component of State Security

Alongside the Virginia National Guard, the Virginia Defense Force proudly represented the modern military at Military Through the Ages. Established as the Virginia State Guard in 1917 during World War I, the VDF has since evolved into a critical state military asset. As an all-volunteer force under the command of the Governor and the Adjutant General of Virginia, the VDF supports the Virginia National Guard in domestic operations, emergency response, and community engagements.

At the Jamestown event, VDF personnel displayed historical items and provided visitors with insights into their mission capabilities. They demonstrated their role in supporting state emergencies, logistics operations, and communications infrastructure, showcasing the unique contributions of a modern state defense force.

Honoring Excellence in Service

During the event, Maj. Gen. James W. Ring, the Adjutant General of Virginia, visited the Virginia National Guard and Virginia Defense Force exhibits, recognizing the dedication of the men and women who serve the Commonwealth. As a token of appreciation, he presented his challenge coin to outstanding members of the Virginia Defense Force, acknowledging their commitment to duty and their role in preserving Virginia’s military heritage.

As the nation prepares to celebrate its 250th year of independence, events like ‘Military Through the Ages’ serve as powerful reminders of the sacrifices and service of those who have defended America from its earliest days to the present. The Virginia Defense Force and Virginia National Guard, carrying forward the legacy of the citizen-soldiers who first took up arms in the Revolution, continue to stand ready to serve and protect the Commonwealth.

Members of the Virginia Defense Force join the Virginia National Guard in representing the modern military at Jamestown Settlement’s Military Through the Ages March 15-16, 2025, in Jamestown, Virginia. VDF personnel displayed historical items and educated attendees about VDF missions and capabilities. Maj. Gen. James W. Ring, the Adjutant General of Virginia, visited the VDF display and thanked them for supporting the event. Read more about the VNG’s historical connection to Jamestown at https://vngpao.info/2p8kf8sc.

Photos on Flickr at https://vngpao.info/2p92brur

Maj. Gen. James W. Ring, the Adjutant General of Virginia, visits Virginia National Guard and Virginia Defense Force personnel representing the modern military at Jamestown Settlement’s Military Through the Ages March March 16, 2025, in Jamestown, Virginia. He also presented his challenge coin in recognition of outstanding duty performance. Read more about the VNG’s historical connection to Jamestown at https://vngpao.info/2p8kf8sc.

Photos on Flickr at https://vngpao.info/2p92brur

Maj. Gen. James W. Ring, the Adjutant General of Virginia, presents his challenge coin for outstanding duty performance to a member of the Virginia Defense Force representing the modern military at Jamestown Settlement’s Military Through the Ages March March 16, 2025, in Jamestown, Virginia.

Virginia National Guard historical connection to Jamestown

RICHMOND, Va. — The Virginia National Guard traces the heritage and traditions of citizen service to the founding of Jamestown when Capt. John Smith organized the colonists for defense. Since the colony’s founding May 14, 1607, there has not been a day since without a military presence in Virginia to defend freedom at home and overseas.

Prior to 1652, formal military organizations were formed as needed and disbanded after the threat passed, and then the House of Burgesses passed a bill that each county would organize militia companies into a regiment. The oldest continuous service regiment in the Virginia National Guard is the 116th Infantry, dating from 1742. The 1st Virginia Regiment was raised July 17, 1775, in Williamsburg as a state militia unit and later for service with the Continental Army, and its lineage lives on today in the Petersburg-based 276th Engineer Battalion.

National Guard Bureau states on their website that the official birth date of the Army National Guard as a reserve component of the Army is December 13, 1636. On this date, the Massachusetts colonial legislature directed that the colony’s existing militia companies be organized into three regiments. This date is recognized based upon the Department of Defense’s practice of adopting the dates of initial authorizing legislation for organized units as the birthdates of the active and reserve components of the armed services.

According to their web site. the Florida National Guard celebrates the first known muster of Citizen-Soldiers in the continental U.S. during a celebration in St. Augustine, Fla. The “first muster” took place on Sept. 16, 1565, when Pedro Menendez de Aviles gathered around him the soldiers of his small Spanish army, as well as the civilian settlers who had accompanied him to the newly established presidio town of St. Augustine. Because his plan called for the use of the majority of his regular soldiers, Menendez drew upon Spanish laws governing the milicia, or militia, in an imperial province. As both the civil governor and the commander-in-chief of the military establishment, he had the authority to call all free male settlers in the presidio province to active service.

Virginia National Guard service dates back to the American Revolution through the American Civil War to World War I and II and on into Operation Desert Shield / Desert Storm and the Global War on Terror.

The 29th Infantry Division, 116th Infantry Regiment, 111th Field Artillery Regiment, 54th Field Artillery Brigade and 246th Field Artillery Regiment were all formed in 1917 from existing militia units as the United States prepared to enter World War I. Soldiers of the 116th Infantry spearheaded an attack in October 1918 during what was known as the Meuse Argonne Offensive. During this attack, Sgt. Earle Gregory of the 116th Infantry earned the Medal of Honor, the first Virginia Guard Soldier to receive the award. The 29th, 116th and 111th are still in active service today, and the 329th Regional Support Group carries the lineage of the 54th, and the 429th Brigade Support Battalion carries the lineage of the 246th.

World War I marked the first time that volunteer state militia units were activated for federal duty under a formal Army structure and deployed overseas for combat operations. Guard Soldiers served with courage, honor and distinction, and that tradition continues on today as we have Guard personnel deployed all over the world.

During World War II, Soldiers from the 29th took part in the massive invasion of Normandy France that began the morning of June 6, 1944, to be known forever as “D-Day.” More than 800 members of the 116th Infantry were killed, wounded or missing during the assault on Omaha Beach, but their courage and bravery helped create a foothold that allowed follow on forces to continue the assault. Two days after D-Day, Tech. Sgt. Frank Peregory of Company K, 116th Infantry from Charlottesville, became the second Virginia Guard Soldier to earn the Medal of Honor when he single-handedly killed or captured 30 enemy soldiers defending a trench line.

From August 2021 to February 2023, more than 2,000 Virginia National Guard personnel mobilized on federal active duty in the United States and overseas, the most since 2007.

VNG Soldiers on duty in the U.S. provided aviation, engineer, transportation and unmanned aerial surveillance support to the Department of Defense-approved mission assisting Customs and Border Protection on the Southwest Border and cyberspace operations support to U.S. Cyber Command.

Soldiers deployed overseas provided mission command for multi-national forces in Kuwait, mission command and base life support in Iraq and Kuwait, a security response force in the Horn of Africa, air defense site security in Iraq, engineer utilities support in Iraq, Syria, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and Kuwait and conducted NATO peace support operations in Kosovo. VNG Airmen also supported a short-notice air superiority support in the United Arab Emirates. 

Since September 11, 2001, more than 18,500 VNG Soldiers and Airmen have mobilized across the globe and here in the United States for homeland security missions.

Military Through the Ages Returns to Jamestown Settlement March 15 and 16

By WYDaily Staff

March 6, 2025

WILLIAMSBURG — Make ready to witness centuries of military history — all in one weekend — March 15 and 16 at Jamestown Settlement.

According to the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation, for four decades, military powers across time have descended on Jamestown Settlement to present an unequaled and unique chronological display of military history. Hundreds of reenactors from 39 military units will muster on museum grounds depicting armed forces from 500 B.C.E. to modern-day soldiers with the Virginia Army National Guard.

At Military Through the Ages, visitors will have the opportunity to become entrenched in the past and present day in military encampments and get hands-on with re-enactors, experiencing how military uniforms, weapons and tactics evolved through the centuries, the foundation added.

Timeline from 500 B.C.E. to the Present Day

According to the foundation, the reenactment units at this year’s event originate from eight states, portraying soldiers and military encounters across the globe from Greek times, the medieval period, Hundred Years’ War, War of the Roses, American Revolution, War of 1812, Napoleonic Wars and American Civil War.

Re-enactors depicting World Wars I and II, the Vietnam War, and Operation Urgent Fury in Grenada will take visitors through the 20th century, and the Virginia Army National Guard 111th Field Artillery and Virginia Defense Force will represent present day, it added.

Artillery Firings, Military Music and Civilian Sutlers

The two-day event will feature special demonstrations of military equipment used in the air, on land and at sea, accompanied by a variety of military musical performances from the Revolutionary War, World Wars I and II to the present day.

Three musical groups are scheduled to perform throughout the weekend event: Field Musick Virginia featuring the sounds of Fifes and Drums of the USRC/USN Virginia (1798), the 12-piece brass AEF Headquarters Band representing the one formed at the American Expeditionary Forces Headquarters in Chaumont, France in 1918 at the request of General John Joseph Pershing; and “The Governor’s Own” 29th Infantry Division Band from the Virginia Army National Guard comprised of enlisted soldiers and a chief warrant officer.

Sutlers will set up shop to sell supplies, from reproduction and historically inspired jewelry to colonial-era reproduction pewter and blacksmithing, 18th-century reproduction leather work and gunsmithing of the past, in the present, the foundation said.

Mobile Vet Center

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs will display its Mobile Vet Center near the museum’s main entrance during the event to provide readjustment counseling, information and resources to veterans.

Military History at Jamestown Settlement

Arms, armor and military equipment of 17th-century Virginia can be seen year-round inside Jamestown Settlement’s extensive galleries and outdoors, where visitors can immerse themselves in life of early Virginia in outdoor re-creations of a 1610-14 English fort, Paspahegh Town and three re-created ships that brought English colonists to Virginia in 1607.

Sources: Virginia Defense Force – Virginia National Guard – Virginia National Guard – WY Daily – Revolutionary War Journal