PRINCETON, IL (10/26/2010)(readMedia)-- He served in Vietnam and several other operations, including tours in Iraq and Europe. That is only part of the highlight reel for a 59-year-old Princeton man, who has dedicated his career to protecting his community and his country. After 30 years as a member of the Illinois Army National Guard (ILARNG), Command Sgt. Maj. Thomas Root is retiring from the ILARNG.

"The idea of being able to protect and serve our nation has always been a priority to me," said Root who wanted to be a Soldier since he was a young boy. "There is no greater call then to serve our great country."

Root, a member of the 129th Regional Training Institute in Springfield, will officially retire from the ILARNG Nov. 29. Before beginning his career in the National Guard, Root served three years in the active-duty Army. With more than three decades of service, Root served in Vietnam, Desert Storm, Operation Desert Spring, Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom and helped the citizens of Illinois during several floods.

"My most memorable moment was in Iraq in 2007 when I was able to pin captain bars on my son Jason, who was deployed with the 25th Infantry Division," Root said.

Jason is one of four sons Root has raised with his wife Laura. Three of them joined the military and are currently serving in the active-duty Army. Root has been married to Laura, the senior pastor at New Hope Church of the Nazarene in Princeton, for 11 years and admits the numerous deployments took a toll on his family.

"Deployments are hard on a marriage and children," Root said. "No matter how strong you may think you are, or your wife and kids are, absence is hard on everyone. The stronger your relationship, the easier the deployment."

Root has lived a life dedicated to his country and his community. He has served in civilian law enforcement for 27 years, including 17 years with the Rock Falls Police Department and the last 10 years as Chief of Police for the City of Princeton.

"The knowledge and experience I have gained over the years from the military has impacted the way I do my day-to-day business as police chief," Root said. "Both of my careers compliment each other in many ways. This has not only benefitted me, but also the community in which I work and live."

Over the past 10 years Root's impact has been noticed by many throughout Bureau County and northern Illinois.

John Thompson of Ladd has worked with Root since Thompson was elected Bureau County Sheriff in 2002. Thompson said Root has helped make the area safer and the community is fortunate to have Root as a part of the law enforcement community.

"Tom exemplifies the term professional," Thompson said. "His constant effort to support and participate in our community is an insufficient testimony to what he provides in values, guidance and knowledge. His leadership skills, whether developed in the military or on the street, have made a wonderful impact on law enforcement within this community."

Jack Scott is a long-time Princeton resident who has seen what Root has done for the community since he started as the police chief in 2000. Scott said he has upgraded the police department's infrastructure, expanded the department, gave officers more training and increased the drug enforcement in the community.

"I would describe Tom as a class act," Scott said. "He is smart and knows how to get the job done. The guy is a workaholic who cares about his community and his country. He is a true Soldier."

Root's love for his country and pride in his community can be seen when you drive past Princeton on Interstate 80. Root and Scott were co-chairmen for the "Flags of Freedom," which are four huge American flags on the four corners of the intersection of Interstate 80 and Illinois Route 26.

"These flags are a magnificent sight," Root said. "Each flag is 1800 square feet and represents the patriotism of our community and support to our military."

To put the flags in perspective, each flag is bigger than the floor plan of most homes in Princeton. A committee of private citizens raised approximately $250,000 to display these flags, which have become a Bureau County landmark.

With more than 30 years of service, Root has had a positive influence on many Soldiers. Approximately 10 years after he left the active-duty Army, Root joined Troop E, 106th Cavalry in Rock Falls. Maj. Gen. Dennis Celletti of Springfield, the Assistant Adjutant General for the Illinois National Guard, was a captain and commander of the unit at that time.

"I could tell when Tom joined the unit he had potential to be a strong Soldier," Celletti said. "There was a lot of fire and determination in his eyes and you knew he would someday evolve to be one of the strongest leaders the Illinois National Guard has. I am proud to have served alongside such a great Soldier. He has had a positive impact on more lives than he will ever know."

Looking back on his time in uniform, Root's advice for younger Soldiers is simple.

"Be proud to be a Soldier every day," Root said. "Be proud to put on the uniform. Be proud to be part of the greatest Army in the world."

WASHINGTON - Senator Chuck Grassley, along with Senators Blanche Lincoln of Arkansas and Ron Wyden of Oregon, sent a letter to U.S. Senate Committee on Veterans Chairman Daniel Akaka and Ranking Member Richard Burr requesting their support in passing the "Honor America's Guard-Reserve Retirees Act" yet this year.

The legislation grants full Veteran status to National Guard and Reserve members who served for 20 or more years and who through no fault of their own were never activated.

"Veteran is a title that honors America's selfless service members with proper dignity and respect," Grassley said. "Unfortunately, there has been an injustice for many National Guard and Reservists whose service to their country has not been fully recognized.  I support this legislation that corrects this inequality and grants them the recognition they have earned."

Click here to read Grassley's letter.

ROCK ISLAND, ILL., (10/19/2010)(readMedia)-- Officials from six National Guard states in the Midwest region including the Illinois Army National Guard, sent command representatives to Rock Island Arsenal Garrison Oct. 18 to speak with cadre about their injured soldiers in Community Based Warrior Transition Unit (CBWTU) rehabilitation program.

The program has existed for roughly four years on the nation's largest government-operated arsenal helping injured veterans from Illinois, Iowa, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin. The program helps rehabilitate Soldiers both mentally and physically and helps transition them back into their normal lives.

The states' National Guard commands work together with the CBWTU, medical facilities and civilian vocational rehabilitation agencies to help Soldiers seek medical attention and find work in the civilian sector.

Soldiers attend one muster every three months at Rock Island Arsenal, but can seek medical treatment in their hometowns instead of being away from family and other support at an active duty hospital in another state.

"In today's Army, the care and medical needs of our injured veterans is paramount," said Celletti. "These men and women went into harm's way while serving their country and they cannot be forgotten and left to struggle to make ends meet in their times of need," Maj. Gen. Dennis Celletti of Springfield, the Assistant Adjutant General - Army of the Illinois National Guard.

Staff Sgt. J.P. Lawson of Marseilles, a platoon sergeant with the CBWTU said the program allows for injured Soldiers to receive the one-on-one care they may not have received at active-duty hospitals after suffering injuries in a combat zone. The facility at Rock Island Arsenal is centralized allowing Soldiers to receive medical attention and take care of personal matters.

"The program is based mainly on getting Soldiers in and getting them to look at their overall care, not just physical but mental," said Lawson. "(The program) is also to help them transition either to a civilian life as they retire out of the military or ... they are actually returning to duty, getting ready for their life outside the war."

Lawson, an Illinois Army Guardsmen now attached to the CBWTP, attended the program in 2007 after returning home injured from deployment to Afghanistan. After going through the program Lawson returned as a cadre member to help fellow Soldiers receive the care they need. As a platoon sergeant, he said he has seen roughly a 90-percent success rate in the Soldiers from his platoon.

Lawson said he has seen Soldiers with all types of injuries in the program. From blindness to broken limbs.

Not all Soldiers going through the transition program have obvious injuries. Army Reserve Staff Sgt. Eric Wolf of Jessup, Iowa, with the 445th Transportation Company out of Waterloo, Iowa suffered multiple noncombat related injuries while deployed to Iraq in 2009.

When he originally came home his treatments were at an active-duty station. With family hundreds of miles away Wolf dealt with mental stress.

Since being assigned to the CBWTU, Wolf has been able to get the medical attention he needs to lead a normal life. With the ability to stay in Jessup between musters, Wolf said he is able to spend time with his family and be present in their lives.

"With this program it allows you to get back your family and your family too does not have to go any longer without you," said Wolf. "When you have a wife taking care of four children and she's already done it through a deployment, it's stress on her too for you to get back. There it's really imperative that you two join back together and support each other."

With medical attention in their hometowns, Soldiers like Wolf are able to receive treatment from their local doctors, family doctors and medical facilities in a place they are comfortable instead of miles away from home.

Wolf said being with his family even during his treatments made his mental and emotional state easier. While Wolf's time with the program is not complete, he said with the treatment and vocational support he has received he has been able to heal both mentally and physically and he is ready to face life and the road to come.

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Former FBI Agent and President of the Chicago Crime Commission Will Help Enhance Transparency, Ensure Toll Dollars Are Spent Wisely

DOWNERS GROVE, IL - Governor Pat Quinn today announced the appointment of James W. Wagner as the first-ever Illinois Tollway Inspector General. Last July, the Governor signed Senate Bill 3118 to create a new Office of the Illinois Tollway Inspector General to oversee operations and investigate ethics violations not covered in the State Officials and Employees Ethics Act.

"The creation of this new office has set the standard for how all government agencies should approach internal oversight," said Governor Pat Quinn. "Jim Wagner is the right person for this important position and we're lucky to have him on board."

Mr. Wagner will investigate claims of wrongdoing or mismanagement in the day-to-day operations of the Illinois Tollway, including those involving fraud, waste, abuse and misconduct. He will also work to ensure that toll dollars are spent appropriately.

"Increasing transparency has been one of my top priorities since I started at the Tollway last April," said Illinois Tollway Executive Director Kristi Lafleur. "The appointment of Jim Wagner is just another example of how serious we are about being 100 percent accountable to our customers and the public we serve."

Mr. Wagner will serve a five-year term and have jurisdiction over the agency's officers, employees, vendors and others doing business with the Tollway. Additionally, Wagner will have subpoena power and submit bi-annual reports to the Governor, General Assembly and Tollway Board of Directors.

Before joining the Tollway, Mr. Wagner served as President of the Chicago Crime Commission and Deputy Administrator of Investigations for the Illinois Gaming Board. Prior to those positions, Wagner worked for the Federal Bureau of Investigation for more than 30 years, serving as Special Agent and Supervisor and Program Coordinator for the Organized Crime Section.

Mr. Wagner has been serving as the Tollway's General Manager of Investigations and Audit since January 2010. He will continue to serve in that position until his appointment and the law creating the Office of the Illinois Tollway Inspector General become effective on January 1, 2011.

At Governor Quinn's direction, the Illinois Tollway has made strides to increase transparency and accountability, promote green and sustainable operations and contribute to the state's efforts to create jobs and foster economic growth in Northern Illinois.

"The Board of Directors is pleased to have such a strong leadership team in place at the Tollway.  We are also grateful to Senators Garrett and Schoenberg and other legislators who supported the creation of this office," said Illinois Tollway Board Chair Paula Wolff. "With Jim's able assistance, we will work to restore public confidence in the agency and meet the challenge Governor Quinn laid out for the Tollway?to be 'squeaky clean'."

About the Illinois Tollway

The Illinois Tollway is a user-fee system that receives no state or federal funds for maintenance and operations. The agency maintains and operates 286 miles of interstate tollways in 12 counties in Northern Illinois, including the Reagan Memorial Tollway (I-88), the Veterans Memorial Tollway (I-355), the Jane Addams Memorial Tollway (I-90) and the Tri-State Tollway (I-94/I-294/I-80).

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