photograph
Catalog Number
2019.30.163Description
Black and white photograph showing the National Guardsmen from Company D (renamed Company B in 1963). The photo appears to shows multiple men marching or standing in a field. Typed on paper attached to the front of the photo it states "126th Inf Retreat Parade at Camp Grayling. The 2nd Battle Group 126th Inf is shown here passing the reviewing stand. The Battle Group is led by the Deputy Commander, Lt. Col. Sikkel and his staff followed by Hq Co. The 46th Dev Band is shown at the right. (hand written is) Lt. Col. Sikkel resides in Holland.)" Handwritten on back of the photo is "1960".History
Colonel Henry Geerds was the driving force behind bringing a National Guard unit to Holland, MI. After his experience in WWI he was determined to have someplace where he could properly train young men to become soldiers. Geerds' Company D, a machine gun battery, began enlisting young men in 1921.Geerds then began making plans to have an Armory built in Holland. The Holland Armory was dedicated in 1925.