URBANA-CHAMPAIGN, IL (09/09/2013)(readMedia)-- A permanent memorial was dedicated in memory of Sgt. Shawna Morrison, a fallen Illinois National Guardsman, at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Sept. 8.

Morrison enlisted in the Illinois Army National Guard in 1996 at age 17 and was a member of the 1544th Transportation Company (TC) in Paris, Ill, and was a member of the University's Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC). While deployed with the 1544th to Iraq she was killed Sept. 5, 2004 by a mortar attack.

Hundreds of friends, family and fellow servicemembers gathered for the ceremony to include her company commander Maj. Brandon Tackett, the former 1544th TC commander. Tackett is with the Ohio Army National Guard and flew from Kuwait to be part of the ceremony. The entire 1544th along with the 144th Army Band and the University's ROTC program marched from the University of Illinois Armory to Lincoln Hall where the dedication was held.

"She had an infectious personality and energy to match her work ethic," said Tackett. "She was a special person, a person willing to leave the safe confines of the University and fight for other people's freedom in a far and distant dangerous land."

Morrison was the first female from the Illinois National Guard killed while serving in Iraq. She was also the first Illinois student actively enrolled in college to die in combat operations.

"She was a member of the Illinois family," said Phyllis M. Wise, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign chancellor. "Her service and commitment will touch all those who are at Illinois now and forever in the future. With this memorial marker, she will always have a place...in the heart of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign."

Morrison was enrolled at the University of Illinois as a psychology major and intended to commission as an Army officer after graduation to continue a career in the military.

"As students, teachers and parents walk past Shawna's memorial in this place of continuing pride, continuing purpose and continuing mission, someone will ask 'Who was Sergeant Shawna Morrison?' and someone will know and someone will remember," said Brig. Gen. Daniel M. Krumrei, the Illinois National Guard Adjutant General. "Someone will tell them she was a part of latest greatest generation. Shawna Morrison was a citizen. Shawna Morrison was a Soldier."

In addition to the memorial, Sept. 8, 2013 is now known as Sgt. Shawna Morrison Day in Illinois "in honor and observance of this heroic Soldier whose service and sacrifice is an inspiration to citizens of the land of Lincoln," stated the proclamation signed by Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn.

JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. - Command Sgt. Maj. John W. Troxell relinquished responsibility as I Corps command sergeant major to Command Sgt. Maj. James P. Norman III in a ceremony at the Carey Theater Sept. 3.

The change of responsibility, originally planned to be outdoors but relocated due to rain, was conducted in a traditional manner with the passing of the Corps colors, representing the loyalty of the unit's soldiers, from Command Sgt. Maj. Troxell to I Corps commander Lt. Gen. Robert Brown.

Brown then passed the colors to Command Sgt. Maj. Norman, signaling to the soldiers of I Corps that their loyalty now belongs to the new command sergeant major.

"We surveyed 100 soldiers on the post to describe Sgt. Maj. Troxell in one word," Brown said during his remarks. "The most frequent word used was 'inspirational.' The second was 'charismatic.'"

Troxell, a native of Davenport, Iowa, and a 31-year veteran in the Army, accomplished many things during his time at I Corps, including the issuance of a new book of standards, (commonly referred to as the "Blue Book") the administration of the Ready and Resilient program, and the institution of the Mangudai Warrior Challenge.

"My fondest memory of my time here at I Corps is the whole time here," Troxell said.

Troxell and his wife, Sandra, will travel to South Korea this fall when Troxell assumes duties as the senior enlisted adviser of U.S. Forces-Korea, headquartered in Yongsan Barracks in Seoul, South Korea.

The soldiers of I Corps welcome their new command sergeant major, but must also bid farewell to their former command sergeant major.

"We really lose a great team with Sgt. Maj. Troxell leaving," Brown said. "But we gain a great team in return."

Norman, a native of Compton, Calif., and a 32-year veteran in the Army, comes to I Corps from Fort Hood, Texas, where he recently served as the senior enlisted adviser to the commander of 1st Cavalry Division and also as the Fort Hood rear detachment command sergeant major.

"My wife, Jay, and I looked forward to moving back to the Pacific Northwest and we look forward to becoming part of the community," Norman said.

SPRINGFIELD, IL (09/03/2013)(readMedia)--

WHO:

• Illinois National Guard Chaplains

WHAT:

• Illinois National Guard Chaplains are hosting upcoming seminars to serve local faith-based organizations throughout Illinois.

• The training is designed to raise awareness among community religious leaders about the challenges faced by servicemembers and their families, with a focus on deployment-related issues such as anger management, suicide prevention, military marriages, and church and community support for the military.

• The training is open to clergy and laity interested in understanding and learning how to support servicemembers, veterans and their families.

WHEN/WHERE:

Sept. 20 Capt. James A. Lovell Federal Health Care Center, 3001 Green Bay Road Building 4; N. Chicago (9 a.m.-3 p.m.)

Sept. 21 Faith Family Church, 704 N. Green Mount Road, Belleville, Ill. (9 a.m.-1 p.m.)

Oct. 2 General Jones Armory, 5200 S. Cottage Grove, Chicago (9 a.m.-1 p.m.)

Oct. 9 Joliet Armory, 2900 W. Jefferson St., Joliet (9 a.m.-1 p.m.)

Oct. 16 Illinois Military Academy, Camp Lincoln, 1301 N. MacArthur Blvd.; Springfield (9 a.m.-1 p.m.)

Honor Flight of the Quad Cities 24th trip to Washington D.C took place on August 29. There was a combination of WWII and Korean era veterans on this trip. A special nod is being given to the guardians for this particular voyage, they are all 100% Vietnam era veterans- but they are traveling specifically as guardians to the WWII and Korean era vets who are aboard.

(Note:  we have had some issues with public folks thinking that since we took, for this flight only, Vietnam era veterans as GUARDIANS, that this means that HFQC is accepting them for the flights, as VETERANS. This is not the case. Right now, we continue to operate as WWII vets as #1 priority, as well as any terminally ill veteran from any war or conflict, then Korean Era veterans.  I just wanted you all to be aware of this because folks "read into" things, and perhaps there is some very careful way to make this differentiation about the guardians on this flight.)

The reason that HFQC has extended this Vietnam era guardian opportunity for this particular flight, is because over the many months & years we have seen an outpouring of Vietnam era support at the airport in many forms. We thought this would be a way to recognize the Vietnam Era vets from the local & regional era by allowing them to have the honor of escorting a WWII and/or Korean Era veteran for the day.

A special "thank you Vietnam Era Veterans, for being guardians" banner will be hanging at the airport to recognize their support tomorrow. The banner also says "Welcome Home", which is I am told, a phrase that has been adopted for Vietnam veterans. If you want to know more about the origin of that phrase, Dave Woods at the Scott County Vets affairs would be a good one to talk to, or any VVA chapter.

The usual welcome home ceremonies occured around the 10 p.m. hour.