For many Americans, Maj. Gen. Timothy Lowenberg said, the image of the National Guard was formed during the years of the Vietnam War, when most Guardsmen stayed home while the military relied on the draft to fill its ranks.

But that’s an outdated view, Lowenberg, adjutant general of the Washington Guard, told a meeting of the City Club of Tacoma on Wednesday. The National Guard is more important than ever in a world where the dynamic of warfare is changing, he said.

“If we did not have the National Guard in this country,” he said, “the threats we face would likely lead to its creation today.”

Lowenberg’s speech at the University of Puget Sound touched on topics affecting the United States in the 21st century and expanded on the National Guard’s role.

The importance of the National Guard has grown as the number of active-duty military installations becomes smaller, he said. Many parts of the country are hundreds of miles away from a military installation, meaning crucial time could be lost during a national emergency or natural disaster.

“It creates a tyranny of time and distance that’s answered by the National Guard,” Lowenberg said.

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More than 4,000 Fort Lewis soldiers have reenlisted during the current fiscal year, the post announced, and another 800 will continue in the Army Reserve or National Guard.

From the press release:

The continued success U.S. Army's all-volunteer force depends on its ability to not just recruit qualified men and women to serve, but to retain trained and experienced Soldiers already in the ranks.

In every major subordinate command on Fort Lewis, trained non-commissioned officers serve as career counselors for their fellow Soldiers, working with Soldiers in their units to develop career goals and identify assignment opportunities that will continue their professional education and growth in their chosen military field.

Jenna Williams is no stranger to deployments. Her husband, Brad, is an airmen stationed at McChord Air Force Base. And her sister-in-law’s husband is a Fort Lewis soldier.

But whether it’s a 15-month deployment to Iraq or a four-month tour of airbases in the Middle East, the separation isn’t easy on the 22-year-old.

“The days just creep by sometimes,” she said.

But on Wednesday morning, her wait was over. Her husband, Senior Airman Brad Williams, returned to McChord with more than 100 other members of the 4th Airlift Squadron, 62nd Airlift Wing after a four-month deployment to Turkey and Kuwait.

Family members and friends waited in the terminal near the flight line until minutes before the jet was scheduled to land. As it began circling around for its landing, they poured outside. Many held signs, balloons and miniature American flags. They erupted in a cheer when the plane landed.

They crowded around the stairs as the airmen walked off. Wing commander Col. Jeffrey Stephenson stood at the bottom of the staircase and shook hands as they walked down. They hugged and kissed their loved ones. Some cried.

“It’s just good to be back,” said Brad Williams said, who received a big hug from his wife and his sister, Amanda Hawkins, as he met them on the flight line.

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We’re working on a list of Veterans Day celebrations around the South Sound. And will be adding to it when we get more. As the day approaches, we’ll be running a list of public ceremonies in the newspaper. Want to add your event to the list? Contact me at scott.fontaine@thenewstribue.com.

Here’s a list of what we’ve got so far:

Saturday:

● Auburn will hold its annual parade. At 11 a.m., it will proceed west on Main Street from E Street SE to B Street NW near Auburn City Hall. A C-17 flyover starts the event. Billy Robins, the state commander of the Vietnam Veterans of America, will be parade grand marshal.

● Auburn Senior Activity Center, 808 Ninth Street SE, 7 a.m. A breakfast hosted by American Legion Post No. 78.

● Veterans Memorial Park, 411 NE Street SE, Auburn, 9 a.m. Military equipment, antique vehicles and artwork on display, followed by remembrance ceremony.

● Auburn Memorial Stadium, 800 4th St NE, Auburn, 1 p.m. Marching band competition.

● South Prairie Community Center, 350 Highway 162, South Prairie, 9 a.m. Matt Waters, a Tacoma police officer and former Army Ranger, will represent nation’s wounded warriors. Performance by McChord Air Force Base color guard.

● Thurston County Fire Protection District No. 17, 16306 Bald Hill Rd SE, Yelm, 11 a.m. Free food, apple cider and tours of the fire station.

Monday

● Clover Park Technical College, Sharon McGavick Student and Conference Center, 4500 Steilacoom Blvd. SW, Lakewood, noon. Col. Paul Gruver of McChord Air Force Base is guest speaker.

● War memorial remembrances, State Capitol campus, Olympia, noon. Color guard ceremony, singers, buglers and speakers.

Tuesday:

● Capitol Rotunda, 416 Sid Snyder Ave. SW, Olympia, 11 a.m.

● Tahoma National Cemetery, 18600 SE 240th St., Kent, 11 a.m. Gov. Chris Gregoire will speak.

● War Memorial Park, Sixth Avenue at McArthur Street, Tacoma, 11 a.m. The Air Force Association and Tacoma Historical Society are hosting a dedication and remembrance ceremony.

● Washington Soldiers Home, 1301 Orting/Kapowsin Highway, Orting, 2 p.m.

● Washington State History Museum, 1911 Pacific Ave., Tacoma, 2 p.m. Readings and discussion on poetry and war.