Sons of the American Revolution honors MD Guard Soldiers and Airmen

By Capt. Kurt M. Rauschenberg, 115th Military Police Battalion —

Maryland National Guardsmen attended the Annual George Washington Birthday Luncheon hosted by the Maryland Society Sons of the American Revolution today to receive a prestigious award known as the Maryland 400 Distinguished Service Medal. Amongst the award recipients were Army Staff Sgt. Amber Insley, 1st Sgt. Robert Schmidt, Spec. Benjamin Wertz, Air Force Tech Sgt. Charles Doran, and Senior Master Sgt. David Herpel. The Maryland 400 Distinguished Service Medal is unique given Maryland is the only State in the Society of the Sons of the American Revolution that has a specific medal honoring the National Guard.

The Maryland 400 Distinguished Service Medal, first awarded in 1936 at Fort Indiantown Gap, Pa., was given to Md. Guardsmen for general excellence based on dependability, cooperation, leadership, patriotism, and intelligence. These medals were awarded annually until 1940, when the National Guard was called into active federal service for World War II. It wasn’t until 2009, when the medals were rediscovered, that Maryland National Guardsmen once again began receiving this award based on conspicuous distinguished service or achievement.

According to MDSSAR, the medal represents an American soldier in the uniform of the Continental Army with musket and bayonet used by the Maryland 400 in the Battle of Long Island pressing forward under the shield of a militant America mantled in the flowing folds of a star-spangled banner, in her left hand a shield to protect her children, in her right a sword for those who would destroy her faith. At the bottom is, “August – 27 – 1776”, the date of the battle when Maryland’s 400 saved Washington’s Army at Gowanus Creek.

“It’s important to the Sons of the American Revolution to recognize the service of those in uniform today as they carry on the traditions of service and sacrifice dating back to 1776”, said Maj. Gen. (Retired) James A. Adkins, former Maryland National Guard adjutant general.

Adkins served as the guest speaker during the ceremony and emphasized the importance of the Maryland 400 at the Battle of Long Island, August 27, 1776.

Douglas Favorite, MDSSAR President, and Brig. Gen. Jeffrey Kramer, Md. National Guard Director of Joint Staff, presented the award to each recipient.

“This is critical to the MDSSAR as we recognize our history is full of people who have fought for our freedom and liberty”, Favorite said. “The people we recognize today are doing the same in a different way and we must keep the spirit alive and keep it going.”

Staff Sgt. Amber Insley, a training specialist with the 115th Military Police Battalion, reflected on what receiving this award meant to her.

“I feel extremely honored to have even been nominated for this award that contains a big part of the Maryland National Guard’s history”, Insley said. “Words cannot express the honor I feel to receive this medal and to represent the Maryland National Guard. I am especially grateful for all those who have mentored me and those I’ve able to mentor throughout my years of service. Without them, I would not have this great honor.”

Lt. Col. Mary Staab and Sgt. First Class Anthony McGrath were in attendance to show their support for Staff Sgt. Insley during the award ceremony.