Then and Now: Washington National Guard

Washington Territory first authorized a militia in 1855, before the region became a U.S. state. Since then, members of the national guard have been called up to fight in several conflicts, including both World Wars.

Section:Gallery

Mon., Jan. 25, 2021

1951: Members of the Washington National Guard’s 161st Infantry drive two M4 Sherman tanks east down Sprague Avenue in Spokane’s 1951 Armistice Day parade. The 161st Infantry had served in the Pacific theater during World War II and later backed up the Army’s 2nd Division in Korea. The roots of the Washington National Guard go all the way back to the Washington Territorial Volunteers in the mid-1850s. After statehood in 1890, the Washington State Guard was formed, but it wasn’t called the “National Guard” until World War I. The National Defense Act of 1933 described the Guard force as a backup to the regular military.

The Spokesman-Review Photo Archive
Present day: Looking west down Sprague Avenue from Wall Street; it has been the route of numerous parades in years past. Ceremonies at cemeteries have taken the place of parades on Veterans Day, formerly Armistice Day. Military parades aren’t as common as they once were, though the annual Armed Forces Torchlight Parade usually takes place every May in Spokane when there are no COVID-19 restrictions.

Jesse Tinsley The Spokesman-Review Buy this photo