U.S. Rep. Morgan Griffith, R-9th, was among a handful of Virginia congressmen who voted against a resolution earlier this month that proclaimed Salem, Mass., as the birthplace of the National Guard.
Griffith insisted Virginia organized a militia in 1624 -- five years before Massachusetts. He noted Virginia was the first English settlement in North America and, in an interview with The Washington Times, good-naturedly accused Massachusetts of having "first colony envy." Then, in a TV interview, he rekindled a deadly flame in the history of Salem, Mass.
"On most things except witch trials, Virginia will always have been first," Griffith, told WSLS-TV10 in Roanoke on April 3.
We’re sorry to say that we can’t resolve which state is the birthplace of the National Guard. Florida also lays claim to that title, saying an organized militia was created a few years after St. Augustine was settled in 1565.
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DelMarVa's Premier Source for News, Opinion, Analysis, and Human Interest Contact Publisher Joe Albero at alberobutzo@wmconnect.com or 410-430-5349
Yes, St. Augustine did have a militia in the late 16th century but it was a Spanish militia, not a colonial militia. Spain did not consider Florida to be a colony but rather an actual part of Spain itself. Things got complicated after that, though. At one time Spain actually traded away Florida to the Brits in exchange for the City of Havana but later took it back. Spain eventually "sold" Florida to the US about 1822 because Jackie Gleason needed a place to play golf and lay on the beach. The beach at what would become Miami had the only beach in the US large enough to accommodate Mr. Gleason and his entourage, including the June Taylor dancers. And now you know the rest of the story.
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