Maryland National Guard Supports 63rd Gubernatorial Inauguration
story by 2nd Lt Enjoli Saunders
ANNAPOLIS, Maryland — Soldiers and Airmen of the Maryland National Guard provided support for the gubernatorial inauguration of Governor Wes Moore, Jan.18, 2022. Guard members escorted distinguished guests, supported the security efforts, played ceremonial music, and provided a military flyover, as well as assisted with logistics.
“We have more than 150 National Guardsmen on the ground. Specifically, we are here manning the ceremonial operations center to make sure that all of the moving pieces of the ceremony go off without a hitch,” said U.S. Army Col. Edward Clements, J3- operations for the Maryland National Guard Joint Staff. “We’ve been preparing for this [inauguration] and rehearsing it for five months or so, making sure that we understand all the different elements of the ceremony so that we understand what our role is.”
The 229th Army Band played songs before and during the ceremony. The 32nd Civil Support Team was onsite to assess potential threats in the area. More than 40 members of the Maryland Defense Force also joined the Army and Air Guard with escort duties. Four A-10C Thunderbolt II aircraft from the 104th Fighter Squadron, Maryland Air National Guard, provided the flyover after Gov. Moore was sworn in.
In his inaugural address, Governor Moore spoke to the thousands of citizens in attendance watching outside the Maryland State House.
“My own journey started in military school, where I learned one of my core values: Service. I went on to lead soldiers in Afghanistan,” said Moore, who served with the 82nd Airborne Division. “My years of service transformed me. My character was strengthened, my vistas were widened, my leadership was tested.”
Gov. Moore’s experience will be beneficial as he relies on the domestic support of the Maryland Military Department to civilian authorities. According to Clement, the National Guard is always ready to help with “consequence management and information fusion.”
Moore is Maryland’s 63rd governor and first-ever Black Governor of the state.
“Although the day started chilly, damp, and before sunrise, it’s amazing to be part of a historic event,” said U.S Army 1st Sgt. Thaddeus Harrington, first sergeant assigned to the 29th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment, Maryland Army National Guard, who was a military escort on the unseasonably sunny day. “This is the first gubernatorial inauguration I’ve supported and it means a lot to be of service to my community in anyway I can.”