Event to take place Tuesday May 9th at 5:30 p.m.
BY JIM BEERS, Contributing Writer
CHESTER – Tuesday May 9, 2023 is the 300th Anniversary of the Illinois National Guard and in commemoration of that special day, the Guard will be hosting several events around the State of Illinois.
One such event will be held on Kaskaskia Island, Illinois at 5:30 p.m. The event will be located at the Kaskaskia Bell Site at 302 1st Street on the Island. That happens to be the site of the Liberty Bell of the West.
Captain Don Martin of the French Marines, Les Companie Franche de La Marine, Fort de Chartres, organizes his company encampment at the 2022 4th of July Celebration on Kaskaskia Island. Martin and his French Marines are popular attractions at most historical events in the area, and will be taking part in the upcoming May 9th Anniversary of the Illinois National Guard Celebration being held on Kaskaskia Island at 5:30, p.m. Tuesday May 9th. The public is encouraged to attend the celebration. Jim Beers Photo
On May 9, 1723, in the small village of Kaskaskia, Diron d’Artaguiette drilled the first militia in the Country. Artaguiette was the Inspector of Troops for the French Commandant. This was the first muster of the Illinois Militia.
We now know that that first militia would later become the Illinois National Guard and that the first muster began in Randolph County in what would later become the State of Illinois.
Four men that lived at the Village of Kaskaskia in 1723 and were assigned to help establish the first militia included Commandant Jean-Baptiste Giarardot, Captain Jacques Bourdon, 1st Lieutenant Michel Philippe, and 2nd Lieutenant Jean Brunet dit Bourbonnois.
On March 1, 1809, the first territorial unit of voluntary militia was federalized and became a unit under the direction of the Federal Government. Eventually this same unit became the 130th Infantry. This unit was located in the southern area of the State of Illinois.
To commemorate this 300th Birthday (1723-2023) of what was to eventually become the Illinois National Guard, numerous State and local dignitaries will converge on Kaskaskia Island Tuesday May the 9th to help wish the ILARNG (Illinois Army National Guard) a very “Happy Birthday”!
Included in that illustrious group is Brigadier General Mark Alessia, Director of the Joint Staff of the Illinois National Guard. Another key dignitary is Major General William Enyart, former Adjutant General of Illinois. Enyart was also a former United States Representative, Illinois Congressional District 12.
Ronald White, Chairman of the Randolph County Board of Commissioners, will also be present to represent Randolph County. The Rev. Sebastian Ukoh, C.M. of the Mary Help of Christians Catholic Church, shall take part in the ceremony, as will Ms. Adriana Schroeder, Illinois National Guard Command Historian.
The Master of Ceremonies for the event will be Sgt. Beau D. Detrick, of the National Guard. Providing pomp and circumstance and musical entertainment will be the 144th Illinois Army National Guard Band.
Another popular attraction that is a crowd favorite at most local patriotic events will be The French Marines, otherwise known as Les Companie Franche de La Marine, Fort de Chartres. This illustrious group of period reenactors is led by Captain Don Martin, of Chester.
The Illinois National Guard is organizing and directing the official program portion of the event. The Chester American Legion and VFW will be sending their combined Color Guards to take part in the program.
Village of Kaskaskia Island Treasurer, Mary Sulser, and life-long resident Mary Ellen Klein-Brown have been working with the National Guard staff to help coordinate various aspects of the event.
Emily Lyons, local Historian, Curator at the Randolph County Museum, and another life-long resident of the Village of Kaskaskia, has been working hard to research the history of the Illinois National Guard and is contributing to the activities associated with the event.
Several ladies from the Kaskaskia Immaculate Conception Church are working with Sulser, Lyons, and Klein-Brown in preparing a small assortment of French Hors D’oeuvres for sale at the event including Pecan Tarts, Madeleines ( French cookies), and sandwiches.
The artwork attached will be located on the commemorative T-Shirts being sold at the event by Kaskaskia Immaculate Concepion Church. The circular art will appear on the left chest of the front of the shirt. The bigger 300th Anniversary logo will be a full back imprint. The shirts were created by Silkworm, Inc. of Murphysboro with artistic direction from Kaskaskia Island residents Leslie and Mary Hurst. Jim Beers Photos
Mary Hurst and her daughter Leslie Hurst of Kaskaskia Island, have created a very nice commemorative 300th Anniversary Illinois National Guard T-Shirt for the event and there will be a limited number of those shirts available for purchase at the event.
Any shirts that are not sold will still be available for sale either by contacting the Hurst ladies or by attending other Immaculate Conception Church events throughout the remainder of the year.
Emily Lyons stresses that this event is open to the public and that she hopes that everyone in the area will take advantage this historical opportunity to attend the 300th Anniversary of the Illinois National Guard.
Lyons also recommends that attendees bring a lawn chair due to the fact that seating may be limited due to anticipated high-volume interest in this event.