First Company Governor's Foot Guard - 200 Years - Hartford, CT
Posted by: 
neoc1
N 41° 45.952 W 072° 40.351
18T E 693467 N 4626399
A plaque commemorating the 200th anniversary of the First Company Governor's Foot Guard is located on the Rochambeau Boulder on the grounds of the Old State House in Hartford, CT.
Waymark Code: WMHQ48
Location: Connecticut, United States
Date Posted: 08/03/2013
Views: 2
The First Company Governor’s Foot Guard was formed in October 1771. It is the oldest military organization in continuous existence in the United States. In 1771 Hartford has a small population of about 3,000 people and was a three day journey by stagecoach from the major cities of New York and Boston. The Governor and the members of the General Assembly required military security during their travels. The First Company Governor's Foot Guard was organized to fulfill this need.
The company was first known as the Governor’s Guard. In 1775 the name was changed to the First Company Governor’s Guard and once again in 1778 the name was changed to the present day First Company Governor’s Foot Guard.
The First Company Governor’s Foot Guard has been involved in many historical events. In 1777, it set out to join the Continental Army at Saratoga. However, when they reached Rhinebeck, NY they were informed that Burgoyne had surrendered. In September 1780, they were present at the meeting Washington and Rochambeau in Hartford that changed the future course of the Revolutionary War.
The rightmost bronze plaque on the Rochambeau Boulder celebrates this anniversary. It is inscribed:
TO COMMEMORATE THE
TWO HUNDRETH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION
OF THE FIRST COMPANY GOVERNOR'S
FOOT GUARD, FOUNDED IN 1771.
THE OLDEST MILITARY UNIT IN CONTINUOUS
SERVICE IN THE UNITED STATES.
PARTICIPATING WERE THE CENTENNIAL
LEGION OF HISTORIC MILITARY COMMANDS
OF THE THIRTEEN ORIGINAL COLONIES.
THE GRENADIER GUARDS BAND, LONDON,
ENGLAND, CANADIAN GRENADIER GUARDS,
MONTREAL, CANADA, AND
GOVERNOR GENERAL'S FOOT GUARDS,
OTTAWA, CANADA.
MAJOR GEORGE A. FORD
BI-CENTENNIAL GENERAL CHAIRMAN
GEORGE A. ATHANSON
MAYOR OF HARTFORD
THOMAS J. MESKILL
GOVERNOR OF CONNECTICUT
FIRST COMPANY, GOVERNOR'S FOOT GUARD,
MAJOR GEORGE W. TULE
COMMANDANT
LIEUTENANT ROBERT V. BRAMAN
ADJUTANT
OCTOBER 2, 1971