Media and public invited to events to help tell the story of Illinois' heroes Sept. 20-23

SPRINGFIELD, IL (09/18/2017) (readMedia)-- WHO:

• Illinois National Guard Veterans

• Illinois National Guard Survivor Outreach Services

WHAT:

• 34 Veterans will ride bicycles during a four-day endurance ride, traveling a 500-mile journey from Cairo, Illinois to St. Charles, Illinois, as part of the Gold Star 500.

Sept. 24 ceremony in Springfield for the 3637th Maintenance Company

SPRINGFIELD, IL (09/18/2017) (readMedia)-- WHO:

• Illinois Army National Guard's 3637th Maintenance Company based in Springfield, Illinois

WHAT:

• A deployment ceremony is scheduled for approximately 135 Soldiers who will deploy to Kuwait this fall.

WHEN/WHERE:

• Sept. 24, 2017 at 9 a.m.

FORT McCOY, Wis. - A military Retiree Appreciation Day will be held from 8 a.m. to noon Saturday, Oct. 15 at Rock Island Arsenal, Ill. Retirees from all branches of the armed forces and their family members/guests are eligible to attend to receive updated information about retiree entitlement programs.         Photo identification is required for all personnel to access the installation.

PARIS, IL (09/13/2017) (readMedia)-- The National Guard's motto is "Always Ready, Always There." Soldiers from the Illinois Army National Guard's 1544th Transportation Company based in Paris, Illinois, and 1644th Transportation Company based in Rock Falls, Illinois, lived that motto this week.

Floor Speech of Sen. Chuck Grassley

Clean Audit Opinions at Pentagon Remain Elusive

Delivered Tuesday, September 12, 2017

Mr. President, I come to the floor today to question the plan for auditing the Department of Defense (DoD).

The new Chief Financial Officer (CFO), Mr. David Norquist, presented a plan to the Armed Services Committee on May 9th. It appears flawed like all the others.

FREE HAIRCUTS TO ALL VETERANS

11 a.m to 1 p.m.

**Food Giveaway with Meat Choices

**Grill Out Lunch Served by Blue Grass American Legion

Book Exhange is open and Work Clothes Closet

Doors Open at 10:00 a.m.

SPRINGFIELD, IL (09/08/2017) (readMedia)-- Springfield, Ill. – With Hurricane Irma potentially making landfall in Florida as a category four hurricane, the Illinois National Guard is preparing to send Soldiers to support Irma recovery and relief efforts.

HB 2897 will help provide comfort for veterans transitioning back to civilian life

MARION (Aug. 25, 2017) – Governor Bruce Rauner today signed HB 2897, legislation to increase access to service dogs for veterans through the Helping Paws Program. This expansion will add veterans to the program-eligibility pool and allow the training of service dogs to assist veterans with physical or mental health ailments.

Davenport, IA – On Aug 31st, approx. 100 Veterans, including 2 WWII veterans, will travel to Washington, D.C to visit the monuments dedicated to their service and sacrifice. This is the 9 th Honor Flight of the Quad Cities that area Hy-Vee stores have sponsored.

On Wednesday, Aug 30th, Hy-Vee is hosting a pre-flight dinner for these veterans, a guest and their guardians.

11 a.m to 1 p.m.

**Food Giveaway with Meat Choices

**Grill Out Lunch courtesy of the Blue Grass American Legion

Book Exhange and Work Clothes Closet is open.

We have launched our Wall of Honor please bring a photo of yourself and years of service or one for a loved one to join our Wall as we say Thank you to our Veterans

Driver and Family Member welcome to join us for lunch

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