District of Columbia National Guard will recognize Soldiers and Airmen during awards & decorations ceremony

Maintenance crew and pilot involved in April's F-16 incident will be recognized

WASHINGTON, DC (11/29/2017) (readMedia)-- The District of Columbia National Guard will host its annual Awards and Decorations Ceremony in the D.C. National Guard Armory, Washington, D.C., Dec. 3, 2017.

The purpose of the ceremony is to recognize unit-level, annual award winners from both the D.C. Army and Air National Guards. In addition to recognizing superior Soldiers, Airman and civilians, the ceremony also includes military drill and ceremony elements and music selections from the 257th Army Band. Cadets from the Capital Guardian Youth Challenge Academy will also stand in formation with D.C. Army and Air National Guard personnel.

There will also be a special recognition for the maintenance crew and pilot of the D.C. Air National Guard F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft that crashed in Clinton, Md., April 5, 2017.

The theme of this year's ceremony is "Protecting the capital and defending the nation since 1802." It serves to remind all D.C. National Guard members of their exclusive, time-honored responsibility to the District of Columbia and the total force.

The pre-ceremony concert will begin at 9:00 a.m. The ceremony will begin at 10:00 a.m. For more information contact Maj. Byron Coward, D.C. National Guard Public Affairs Officer at 202-821-7181 or byron.b.coward.mil@mail.mil.