Extend our nation's oldest defense force to lift service strain

On this day in 1860, on the heels of the Gold Rush in the American West, pioneers found themselves under attack. A lawless band of shady characters, known as the “Bummers,” terrorized Auraria, west of present-day Denver, during what became known as the “Turkey War.” The community organized two companies of citizen soldiers — the “Jefferson Rangers” and the “Denver Guards” — who came to the rescue.

After ejecting the Bummers from the community, under threat of hanging, the companies disbanded, but not for long. In 1861, Colorado became a territory, and its first governor organized a militia in Denver called the “Colorado Volunteers” which later became the Colorado National Guard.