{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.casey.senate.gov/newsroom/blog/the-377th-birthday-of-the-national-guard", "The 377th Birthday of the National Guard", "2013-12-13", "2013", "2013-12", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Bob Casey", "C001070", "www.casey.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Friday, December 13, 2013\n\t\t\t\t The 377th Birthday of the National Guard \n\t\t\t\t\n                        by Bob Casey \n                        \n                 \n\t\n\t            \n\t                \n\t                    \n\t                        \n\t                    \n\t                \n\t            \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t  \t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\tThe National Guard celebrates its 377th birthday today. The National Guard traces its history back to a direct declaration of the Massachusetts Bay Colony on December 13, 1636.\u00a0 This declaration formed a group of Citizen-Soldiers, requiring all physically able men between 16 and 60 to serve in the militia whenever they were needed.\r\nOther colonies would follow in establishing their own defense forces.\u00a0 Though Pennsylvania\u2019s Citizen-Soldier defense force would not form for over another hundred years, its history is no less special.\u00a0 In 1747, Benjamin Franklin would lead others Philadelphians in the creation of the \u201cAssociators.\u201d\u00a0 The idea caught on in neighboring areas within Pennsylvania and was soon replicated throughout the Commonwealth.\u00a0 From its founding in 1747, through the Revolution, to today\u2019s commitment in Afghanistan, the Pennsylvania National Guard has upheld its motto, \u201cCivilian in peace.\u00a0 Soldier in war.\u201d\r\nToday, Pennsylvania has the third largest National Guard in the nation. While the wars have changed, the commitment of these Citizen-Soldiers to answer the call of duty, in their own community, or on the other side of the world, has remained constant.\u00a0 Join me today in wishing the National Guard a \u201chappy birthday!\u201d\u00a0 I am truly honored to represent a state with such a rich tradition and dedication to its own community and to national service.\n\t\t\t\t\n                    \n    \n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n                    \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tTags:\n                            \n                                \n                                National Guard", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://www.casey.senate.gov/newsroom/blog/the-377th-birthday-of-the-national-guard"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.138867810368538, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}