Mission Complete, Troops Heading Home

SPRINGFIELD - September 2, 2011. Governor Pat Quinn today announced that the Illinois Army National Guard members assisting with Vermont flood relief operations have completed their mission and are heading home. Earlier this week Governor Quinn ordered Illinois National Guard helicopters and troops to active duty in Vermont after receiving a request for assistance from the state.

"The Illinois National Guard has again responded when the state and country has called on them," Governor Quinn said. "Our servicemembers are some of the greatest this nation has to offer.  Time and again, they show their dedication by answering the call to duty and we are proud of them."

"We are grateful for the opportunity to help another state in need," said Maj. Gen. William Enyart, Adjutant General of the Illinois National Guard. "This shows we are prepared to assist, not just in Illinois, but throughout our country."

Approximately 95 members of the Illinois National Guard set up an operating base in Rome, N.Y., while their helicopters flew into Burlington, Vt. The Illinois Army National Guard assisted delivering food, water and other supplies to several towns in Vermont that were isolated by flooding.

"The Illinois National Guard has done amazing work here in Vermont. The towns I visited today that have been cut off by road for days were cheering when the helicopters started to arrive on Wednesday," said Maj. Gen. Michael D. Dubie, Adjutant General of the Vermont National Guard. "We have stocked up the isolated towns and established rough road access to many that will soon support civilian vehicle traffic. A huge thank you to the entire Illinois team that made this happen."

During operations in Vermont, the Illinois National Guard provided the following air movements of critically needed supplies:

• 58 pallets of water
• 63 pallets of food
• 4 pallets of blankets
• 3 pallets of cots
• 3 pallets of tarps
• 1 generator
• 16 passengers

The six UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters, two CH-47 Chinook helicopters, pilots and crew, ground support vehicles, and command and control staff were prepositioned in New York Aug. 29 to 30.  After completing needed operations today, they will head home and arrive in Illinois over the weekend.

Units that provided hurricane relief in Vermont include : Headquarters and Headquarters Company; 1st Battalion, 106th Aviation Regiment in Peoria and elements of Company A, 1st Battalion, 106th Aviation Regiment in Decatur; Company B, 1st Battalion, 106th Aviation Regiment in Chicago; Company C and Company D, 1st Battalion, 106th Aviation Regiment in Peoria; and 2nd Battalion, 238th General Support Aviation Battalion in Peoria.

"These Soldiers put aside their daily lives and commitments in a moment's notice to come to the aide of residents more than 1,100 miles from them on the East Coast," Enyart said.  "We also owe their families and employers a thank you for their support."This is the fifth time this year the Illinois National Guard has responded to assist others in need. More than 500 Soldiers were activated for the February winter storms. Approximately 500 Soldiers responded to the southern Illinois flooding this spring. The Illinois National Guard also sent one CH-47 Chinook helicopter with five crew members from Company B, 2nd Battalion 238th Aviation based in Peoria to help the South Dakota National Guard battle flood waters on June 3.  A UH-60 Blackhawk and four crew members with Company A, 1st Battalion, 106th Aviation Regiment in Decatur, deployed to Omaha, Neb., in support of flood relief efforts June 21.

For video: http://www.dvidshub.net/video/124512/106th-avn-vermont-b-roll-and-interviews

President Obama told Legionnaires that while the United States is in a time of fiscal restraint, that the restraint won't include cutting benefits of America's veterans.

"As a nation, we're facing tough choices as we put our fiscal house in order," the president said, getting a standing ovation from the crowd of thousands in the process. "But I want to be absolutely clear: We cannot, we must not, and we will not balance the budget on the backs of our veterans. And as commander-in-chief, I won't allow it."

Secretary of the Dept. of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki said that VA and the Department of Defense "will spearhead a government-wide effort to reform the way members transition out of the military services. Every member will receive the training, education and credentials needed to successfully transition to the civilian workforce or to pursue higher education."

House Democratic Leader Rep. Nancy Pelosi told delegates, "In the weeks ahead ... Congress will take up the budget at a table of 12," Pelosi said. "I want The American Legion, and all of America to know - that the values of America's veterans will have a strong presence at that congressional table. I want to assure you that as we reduce the deficit, America's veterans will not be short-changed. Meeting the needs of our veterans ... is a value of the American people that we will protect in those negotiations.

"Supporting our veterans is a bipartisan cause," Pelosi said. "That's the beautiful part of it. It's a place we can all come together. America's veterans have earned our respect by their actions, their bravery and their valor, their willingness to step forward and serve on our behalf."

Among the major events preceding the Legion's 93rd National Convention in Minneapolis was a veterans hiring fair produced jointly by The American Legion and the United States Chamber of Commerce. Legion organizers praised the hiring fair as among the most productive of recent Legion-sponsored career fairs and credited the U.S. Chamber's participation, through its network of local and regional chambers of commerce, for its success. The Legion hiring event was the 19th in an initial series of 100 veterans career fairs to be co-produced by the U.S. Chamber and veterans' advocates nationwide as part of its 'Hiring our Heroes' initiative.

Kevin Schmiegel, vice president of veterans' employment programs at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, announced the impending rollout of three additional components in the organization's concerted campaign to employ military veterans. The official announcement of the program expansion will be made on Veterans Day, said Schmiegel, but Legionnaires were being given a "sneak preview."

The convention ended with the election of Fang Wong of New York, a retired Army Chief Warrant Officer and Vietnam War veteran, as the new national commander.

As the 10th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks approaches, Americans remember the day's tragic events. It will be a day of remembrance, but it will also be a day to commemorate those whose lives were lost and the people who risked their lives to help others.

Several organizations across Iowa have announced plans to honor the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks through service and volunteerism by rekindling the spirit of hope and community following that devastating day.

In 2009, the United States Congress passed bipartisan legislation, signed by President Barack Obama, formally recognizing Sept. 11 as a National Day of Service and Remembrance. Through the nationwide 9/11 Day of Service and Remembrance initiative, several Iowa communities including Cedar Rapids, Davenport, Des Moines, Lamoni, Ottumwa and Waverly are joining groups around the country planning to commemorate 9/11 with community-based service programs.

9/11 Day of Service and Remembrance Iowa events include :

• Central Iowa

o   Fire Fest, hosted by the Des Moines Fire Fighters - Local 4

o   9/11 Day of Service and Remembrance Community Walk, hosted by the Des Moines AmeriCorps Alumni Chapter

o   Stand Down Event, hosted by the Veteran's Association of Des Moines

o   Film screening of "Beyond Belief," hosted by the Des Moines AmeriCorps Alumni Chapter

o   60 Miles for 60 Cops: Des Moines Police Walk from Principal Park to the Capital, hosted by the Des Moines Police Department

o   Remembrance Event at the Central Library, hosted by the City of Des Moines

o   9/11 ceremony, hosted by the Governor's Office

o   The Flapjack 5K, 10K and Celebration Stroll, hosted by The Children's Cancer Connection

o   Blood drive, hosted by the LifeServe Blood Center

o   Community improvement projects in Maxwell, hosted by local Maxwell businesses

• East Central Iowa

o   Commemorating 9/11...Ten Years Later, hosted by the Clinton Police and Fire departments

o   Stand Down event, hosted by the Veteran's Association of Cedar Rapids

o   Community-wide work day in Cedar Rapids, hosted by BRIGHTEN/AmeriCorps VISTA staff

o   Honor Their Memory by Being Better Prepared, hosted by the Davenport Volunteer Connection/Mayor's Office

• Northwest Iowa

o   Tribute by postcard event for wounded soldiers, hosted by the Siouxland Volunteer Center and RSVP of Woodbury County

• Southeast Iowa

o   Postcard thank you drive, hosted by the Wapello County United Way

• Southwest Iowa

o   Food/Care package drive, hosted by the City of Lamoni

"Volunteering on Sept. 11 in honor of those who lost their lives and those who responded to the tragedy has become a tradition in Iowa and we are very proud of those who will give their time in service this year," said Adam Lounsbury, executive director of the Iowa Commission on Volunteer Service. "We encourage all Iowans to take time this Sept. 11 to give back to their community like so many others have done in the spirit of this day."

Those interested in participating in one or more of the 9/11 Day of Service events can visit the Iowa Commission on Volunteer Service Volunteer Solutions website for more information or to sign up for an event.

For more information on the National 9/11 Day of Service and Remembrance initiative, visit www.911day.org to explore and support charitable causes of interest, find volunteer opportunities and post personal good deeds.

The 9/11 Day of Service and Remembrance is an initiative led by HandsOn Network, the volunteer activation division of Points of Light Institute and MyGoodDeed in partnership with the 9/11 Memorial, Business Civic Leadership Center, AARP and the Mission Continues.

"Sept. 11 is an extraordinarily powerful motivator for engagement," said Michelle Nunn, CEO of Points of Light Institute. "We must use this touchstone to unite and collaborate as never before to demonstrate that service and citizen engagement are essential to meeting the challenges before us."

ABOUT ICVS

The Iowa Commission on Volunteer Service was formed in 1978 to improve lives, strengthen communities and foster civic engagement through service and learning. For more information on the Iowa Commission on Volunteer Service and local volunteer opportunities, visit www.volunteeriowa.org.

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by U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley

A decade after vicious terrorist attacks killed thousands of innocent people and caused immeasurable grief to victims and survivors, America has shown the world that 9/11 may have changed life as we knew it, but it has not changed America's commitment to freedom, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

The national tragedy tapped an overwhelming sense of solidarity and sacrifice among Americans from across the country. Consider the selfless acts of courage and patriotism from the moment the hijackers commandeered three airplanes on that clear September morning 10 years ago: from the passengers aboard United Flight 93, to the first responders who reported to the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, and the heroes who serve on the front lines from within the nation's military and from behind-the-scenes in our intelligence and counterterrorism operations. Thanks to the allegiance of public servants and private citizens, our men and women in uniform and our captains of commerce and industry, the United States of America continues to serve as a beacon of hope, freedom and opportunity to the rest of the world. Those who sought to undermine the exceptionalism of the American people underestimated the resiliency of the American people.

Just consider the recent protests across the globe, where after decades of oppression, the people of Tunisia, Egypt and Libya have thrown out autocratic regimes in the pursuit of self-government, economic opportunity, higher standards of living and personal freedoms. The 10th anniversary of 9/11 offers Americans and our friends around the world the opportunity to embrace the common threads that tie us together.

For more than two centuries, the United States has attracted millions of newcomers to live and work in the land of opportunity. Generations of Americans have scaled the ladder of economic and social mobility, enjoyed the freedoms of press, speech and religion, and embraced the ups and downs of entrepreneurship, risk-taking and innovation. Unleashing the power of the individual has served as a catalyst for economic growth and prosperity for the last 235 years.

Along the way, the United States evolved as an economic, cultural and military leader in the world. The 9/11 terror attacks dealt a devastating blow to America and all of humanity. And yet, 10 years later, America still stands as the shining city on the hill. Despite the economic downturn, America still bears the promise of better days ahead. Despite high unemployment and unprecedented public debt, the American Dream still serves as the magical elixir that ultimately defines the nation's resiliency and bone-deep belief in the goodness of America.

That bone-deep belief in the goodness of America flows through the veins of those called to serve their country in the U.S. military, including one of Iowa's own hometown heroes who lost his life in the line of duty this summer. Jon Tumilson enlisted in the Navy after graduating from high school in 1995.  A 35-year-old Navy SEAL from Rockford, he was one of 30 Americans killed in one of the deadliest attacks on U.S. forces since 9/11. Barbara and I were able to pay our respects to this fallen Navy SEAL at his funeral in August. The long-time Iowa Hawkeye football and wrestling fan left behind family members and loved ones, including his beloved Labrador retriever named Hawkeye. The black lab led family members into the school gymnasium for the service and proceeded to lie next to the casket of his owner. They say a picture is worth a 1,000 words. The image of Tumilson's dog lying next to the flag-draped casket brought three words to mind; loyalty, loss and love.

Let's honor the memory of the many Iowans who've died in military service since 9/11, and all the soldiers and veterans who have served their country to protect U.S. national security and preserve our American way of life.

May their sacrifice remind us of their bone-deep belief in America's goodness. As policymakers return to Washington, D.C. and Americans observe the 10th anniversary of 9/11, let's keep their legacy and love of country close to mind as we work to put America back on the right track towards economic growth and prosperity.