about national guard historical foundation
We are much more than just a Historical Foundation and a Museum; We are the story of America from before the landing at Jamestown to the current day. We are an honest, sharing broker of knowledge, service, and patriotism for all Virginians and all Americans.

116th Infantry flag. The original World War One colors of the 116th Infantry Regiment; preserving and protecting this and other similar historic artifacts of Virginia’s service in the Great War is one of the Foundation’s goals.

The stained glass window in a chapel at Fort Pickett; dedicated to the memory of Chaplain Thomas M. Bulla of the 3rd Battalion, 116th Infantry. Bulla was killed in action in the Meuse-Argonne while rescuing wounded soldiers of his unit.
VISION
- The VANG HF’s historical and educational vision is to preserve and promote Virginia’s military history through the development of meaningful education programs, museum exhibits, and participation in appropriate events that further the understanding of the past, clarify the present, and provide vision for the future.
MISSION
- Build the Museum of the Virginia National Guard (MVANG). Operate and sustain the Museum. (Hot link jump to Museum page)
- Endow our Soldier and Airman Foundation. Helping our troops…helping our families!
- Reinvigorate our Associations to provide Professional Development & Alumni services. Provide premier Alumni services…for life!
- Recover, restore, and preserve historical artifacts of the VANG and Virginia’s military history.
- Provide a world-class research capability.
- Develop a Research and Archives Center. This will include the Museum’s library and the VNG historical records file.
- Produce finished historical products such as scholarly publications, lineage and honors certificates, and information papers.
- Serve as a repository for historical correspondence, information papers, authority publications, and circulars that not only document the evolution of the Army, but the evolution of policy, doctrine, force structure, and military education as well.
- Serve as the repository for and coordinator of educational and historical programs. This will support Virginia National Guard’s professional development initiatives.
BENEFITS
- Free newsletter
- Museum update
- Notification of upcoming events
Foundation Board
COL(Ret) Tom Wilkinson, Board Chairman
“We have come a long way from the small group of history buffs that created the Board more than 10 years ago! We have a great story to tell from the inception of this nation. From Jamestown in 1607 to today, the Virginia National Guard has been here protecting and serving our Commonwealth. I look forward to making our museum dream a reality and with your help and support, we can do it!”
MSG(Ret) R. Craig Jewell, Volunteer Services
“The willingness of these volunteers to work on these pieces of equipment in all sort of weather is pretty inspiring when you consider that they are donating their time and efforts to support the Virginia National Guard Historical Foundation.”
CW4(Ret) Alexander Barnes, Board Vice-Chairman
The amazing thing about our efforts is not that we have found such enthusiasm to build a lasting tribute to the Virginia National Guard and all of Virginia’s veterans, but that it has taken so long to get to this point. The time is now; our comrades, friends, families, and fellow citizens deserve a world-class museum and research center. Let’s Go!”
MG Timothy P. Williams, 28th TAG of Virginia
BG James W.Ring
COL(Ret) Todd Combee, Board Secretary
“As Chaplains, we are always trying to tell our story so people can understand what we do. The Virginia National Guard Historical Foundation and Museum will help tell the story, our story, of commitment to our nation, and to our communities. The story of neighbor helping neighbor, soldiers deploying to places around the world, families and employers standing with us as we serve, making a difference in our world, telling the story of the Virginia National Guard. Help us tell our story, your story!”
MG Michelle M. Rose
CSM(ret) Carl Holcomb
Meet The FoG
Some of the Friends of the Guard (FoG) take a break and pose in front of an Up-Armored HUMMV they are restoring. When completed, the vehicle will receive TAC-Markings for a VANG unit in the Global War on Terrorism.
“It’s important to preserve and display these pieces of Virginia’s military past because they have come to symbolize much more than just large pieces of iron and steel. Our Vietnam vets love to bring their families and friends to see the M42 Duster and UH-1 Huey helicopter because it gives them a chance to talk about their service.” Al Barnes VANG HF Vice-Chairman

The M42 40 mm Self-Propelled Anti-Aircraft Gun, or “Duster,” is a tracked vehicle built for the U. S. Army from 1952 until December 1960, and in service until 1988. Seen here in April 2019

The same “Duster” after preservation and restoration by the FoG and on display at the JFHQ in June 2021.

An M84 Mortar Carrier, derivative of the M59 Armored Personnel Carrier, as seen in June 2021.

The same M84 Mortar Carrier after preservation by the FoG in December 2021. Restoration to original appearance will begin in May 2022.
The Historic Foundation’s Volunteer Group: The Friends of the Guard (FoG)
What is the FoG?
One of the more interesting parts of the Historic Foundation is the unique service organization known as the FoG. The acronym is short for “Friends of the Guard,” a name given by Maj. Gen. Williams to the volunteers who refurbish historical macro artifacts for the VANG HF. It started simply enough as two veterans MSG(Ret) Craig Jewell and COL(Ret) James Ebertowski volunteered to work on a badly rusted 1955-dated M42 Duster that had been brought to the JF HQ for display. In time they reached out to other retired veterans in the area who joined them.
The Duster, a self-propelled, open turret anti-aircraft gun, was obtained through the efforts of Maj. Gen. Timothy P. Williams, the Adjutant General of Virginia, and retired Chief Warrant Officer 4 Al Barnes, the Virginia National Guard command historian. The FoG met once a week for more than a year to scrape off the rust and then sand and paint the Duster to get it ready for display. In the meantime, other macro artifacts including a 1942 dated Bofors 40mm Anti-Aircraft Gun, a 155mm Howitzer, a 120mm Soviet mortar, a 1919 French 75mm cannon, a WWII pack howitzer, an M4A3E8 Sherman Tank, an M-84 Armored Mortar Carrier and a WWII DUKW Amphibious vehicle arrived at the Headquarters and took their place on the display pads to the south of the building.
The FoG efforts to preserve these pieces of VANG history has been invaluable. Also refurbished by the group are the M41 Bulldog Tank and the 3 and ½ ton Service Elevator Pulley from the Twin Towers on display in front of the Headquarters have been restored and preserved by the volunteers. One of the next items is the UH-1 Huey which will be mounted above the brick wall sign in front of the Headquarters.
Now numbering 10 members in their group, the FoG donated 1023 hours of volunteer work in 2021. Together they have almost 300 years of combined military service. They include two former Ordnance Corps colonels, a Transportation Corps colonel, a Medical Service Corps colonel, an Aviation major, a combat engineer NCO, a military intelligence NCO, a Navy chief warrant officer 4, an Army command sergeant major and an Army master sergeant. The group includes two Vietnam veterans, three Desert Storm veterans and an Operation Iraqi Freedom veteran. They also include three Defense Language Institute graduates and three former Combined Army Support Command Directors.

Another preservation and restoration project by the volunteers, a 75mm pack howitzer is seen here receiving its final paint job before display in the lobby of the JFHQ.

Shortly after its arrival at the JFHQ and placement on a display pad, the M84 Mortar Carrier starts to get a good cleaning and preservation begins.
FOG PROJECTS YEARS IN REVIEW
FOG 2019 Projects
FOG 2020 Projects
FOG 2021 Projects
FOG 2022 Projects