RICHMOND, Va. –
Virginia National Guard Soldiers and Airmen will be on duty Jan. 17, 2026, in Richmond, Virginia, supporting the inauguration of Abigail Spanberger as the 75th Governor of Virginia. VNG personnel will conduct a variety of missions including firing a 19-gun artillery salute with blank ammunition, playing ceremonial music and conducting a flyover with F-22 fighter jets. A formation of Virginia National Guard Soldiers and Airmen will also lead the inaugural parade.
After the ceremony, Maj. Gen. James W. Ring, the Adjutant General of Virginia, will present Spanberger a shell casing from the artillery salute.
“It’s an honor for the Virginia National Guard to support the inauguration of Governor-elect Spanberger,” said Ring. “As we support the peaceful transfer of governance for the Commonwealth, we are mindful that the Virginia National Guard remains a globally employed force with mobilized personnel serving around the world.”
**Please note the downtown Richmond area will experience loud booms from the artillery salute and noise from the flyover at roughly 12:31 p.m. on the day of the inauguration. There is no threat to public safety**
The VNG’s inauguration support not only provides a chance to showcase the organization’s myriad capabilities, but also provides an opportunity to train on joint operations with civil support partners.
“The Virginia National Guard welcomes the opportunity to conduct training and operations with our local and state partners,” Ring said. “Our mission is to be always ready, always there and we are glad to provide support to our civil partners.”
VNG personnel are scheduled to conduct the following missions during the inauguration ceremony:
- Soldiers assigned to the Norfolk-based 1st Battalion, 111th Field Artillery Regiment, 29th Infantry Division Artillery will blank fire a ceremonial 19-gun salute with four M119A3 105mm howitzers.
- Soldiers assigned to the Troutville-based 29th Infantry Division Band will provide music for the inaugural ceremony.
- Brig. Gen. Charles Martin Jr. and Command Sgt. Maj. Timothy Hawley, the Virginia Army National Guard command team, will lead the inaugural parade with a marching formation of Soldiers and Airmen and a joint color guard representing the Virginia Army and Air National Guard and Virginia Defense Force. VNG personnel will also present a historical color guard in Revolutionary War-style uniforms to commemorate the upcoming 250th anniversary of the nation’s independence.
- Pilots assigned to the Virginia Air National Guard’s 149th Fighter Squadron, 192nd Operations Group, 192nd Wing will perform a two-ship F-22 Raptor flyover during the ceremony. They will launch and recover from Joint Base Langley-Eustis in Hampton, Virginia, home of the 192nd Wing.
The VNG is a unique dual-status force with a federal mission to serve as the combat reserve of the U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force and a state mission to provide a response force that answers the call of the governor to protect the commonwealth. The Virginia Defense Force is authorized by the Code of the Virginia as the all-volunteer reserve of the VNG and serves as a force multiplier integrated into all domestic response operations.
Current VNG federal active duty mobilizations:
Approximately 130 VNG Soldiers assigned to the Powhatan-based 180th Engineer Support Company, 276th Engineer Battalion, 329th Regional Support Group are on federal active duty providing engineer support to Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa. Read more here: https://vngpao.info/2p99t42h
Approximately than 130 VNG Soldiers assigned to the Hanover-based 229th Military Police Company, 276th Engineer Battalion, 329th Regional Support Group are on federal active duty supporting customs operations in the U.S. Central Command’s area of operations. Read more here: https://vngpao.info/3227hwmj
Photos and video of the VNG’s support to the 74th Gubernatorial Inauguration in 2022 are available for download at https://vngpao.info/2bw7h8jh.