BOTSWANA, AFRICA (08/08/2012)(readMedia)-- Three Illinois National Guard units, among the more than 1,200 military personnel from the United States who are participating in Southern Accord 2012, gathered for a cultural day Aug. 5 at Thebephatshwa Air Base, The Republic of Botswana, Africa.

Southern Accord 12 is a joint exercise bringing together U.S. Army personnel with counterparts from the Botswana Defense Force to conduct humanitarian assistance, disaster relief operations, peacekeeping operations, aeromedical evacuation and enhance military capabilities and interoperability.

The 405th Brigade Support Battalion in North Riverside and Streator, the 766th Engineer Battalion in Decatur and the 139th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment in Springfield are supporting Southern Accord 2012 Aug. 1 to 17.

During cultural day Soldiers experienced a dance performance from local Botswana Defense Forces (BDF) personnel in ethnic attire as well as local music and food.

Approximately 35 vendors from across Africa also set up booths to sell collectables, souvenirs and clothing. The day also gave members from the various forces a chance to socialize and network with each another.

Sgt. Whitney Clever of Island Lake, Ill., with Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, 405th Brigade Support Battalion in North Riverside said she loved cultural day for the interaction with the BDF and local civilians. She said she learned a lot about Botswana culture from the items she found at the bazaar.

"During an exercise like this, it's amazing to see so many different counterparts come together," said Clever. "Not only by country, but also the Army, Marines, Air Force, and Navy coming together with the BDF and their local community for a shared experience. It was really a great exercise."

Having an opportunity to interact with people not from her country was African-native Charlene Mubita's favorite part of the day. Mubita sold clothing, self-designed home goods, and served local foods at her booth.

"It was a great opportunity to meet so many different people from various places, all of whom were friendly," said Mubita.

Video of the cultural day and interviews with Illinois National Guard Soldiers can be found here http://www.dvidshub.net/search?q=botswana+cultural+day.

Braley Applauds Bi-partisan Success Honoring Dubuque Veteran

Dubuque, IA - Today, President Obama will sign H.R. 1627, the Honoring America's Veterans and Caring for Camp Lejeune Families Act of 2012.  Included in the law is the Andrew Connolly Veterans Housing Act which will extend a Veterans' Administration adaptive housing grant program that helps injured and disabled veterans retrofit their homes to make them more disability-accessible.  Without this legislation, the adaptive housing program would have expired at the end of 2012.

"Meeting Andrew, Jenny and Brody Connolly will always be one of the highlights of my life," Braley said.  "They inspired me, the people of Dubuque and members of both parties in Congress to do more to help one another.  Andrew would have turned 29 last week and I can think of no more fitting tribute to his memory than this bill being signed into law."

The Andrew Connolly Veterans Housing Act is named after the late Andrew Connolly of Dubuque - an Iowa Army National Guardsman who returned from a tour of duty in Iraq with a tumor in his spine. With Braley's help, Connolly was able to get a grant that allowed him to move into a wheelchair-accessible home until his untimely death in August 2011.  Connolly became an advocate for expanding the program, despite his failing health.

The bill will extend the adaptive housing grant program for disabled veterans for ten years, through December 31, 2022.  The legislation also increases the adaptive housing grant limit for temporary housing to $28,000, and increases the total adaptive housing grant limit from $63,780 to $91,780, revising current law to exclude the temporary residence adaptation grant from counting towards the total grant amount.

The Andrew Connolly Veterans Housing Act is included on page 12 of the bill to be signed into law today.  To see this section of the bill, go to: http://go.usa.gov/GPe.  In addition, to see Andrew Connolly testifying in Congress on May 3, 2011 about the importance of the Veterans Housing programs, go to: http://youtu.be/3haDUPFAPvo.

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MILITARY MUSEUM MARKS BICENTENNIAL OF FORT DEARBORN MASSACRE DURING THE WAR OF 1812

SPRINGFIELD, IL (08/03/2012)(readMedia)-- To recognize the 200th anniverary of the War of 1812, Don Ferricks, assistant curator of the Military Museum and Living Historian will display and discuss the uniform and equipment of a Regular Army Soldier of the time.

WHO:

Don Ferricks, assistant curator of the Illinois State Military Museum and Living Historian

WHAT:

To recognize the 200th anniversary of the War of 1812 and the Fort Dearborn massacre, the Illinois State Military Museum will feature Living Historian Don Ferricks who will display and discuss the uniform and equipment of a Regular Army Soldier of the time. Admission and parking are free.

WHEN: Wednesday August 15, 2012 at 01:00PM Central Time (US & Canada)

WHERE:Illinois State Military Museum
1301 N. MacArthur Blvd
Springfield, Illinois 62702

NOTES:

The Illinois State Military Museum displays the history of the Illinois National Guard from 1723 to the 21st Century. Located two blocks north of the intersection of MacArthur Blvd. and North Grand Ave. in Springfield, Ill., the museum is open Tuesday through Saturday, 1-4:30 p.m. Admission and parking are free. Contact the museum at (217) 761-3910 or NGILMilitaryMuseum@ng.army.mil or visit http://www.il.ngb.army.mil/museum/. Become a museum Facebook Fan at www.facebook.com/illinoisstatemilitarymuseum. To learn more about Illinois National Guard history visit http://www.il.ngb.army.mil/History/.

(DES MOINES) - Gov. Branstad is ordering all flags in the state to be flown at half-staff beginning at 5 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 3, 2012, until 8 a.m. on Monday, Aug. 6, 2012 for Sgt. Michael E. Ristau., 25, originally of Cascade.

Sgt. Ristau was killed in Afghanistan, while serving on active duty in the U.S. Army, on July 13, when the vehicle he was riding in was attacked by an improvised explosive device.

The governor's directive applies to all U.S. and state flags under the control of the state. H.R. 692, signed in 2007, requires federal government agencies in the state to comply with the governor's executive order that the U.S. flag be flown at half-staff in the event of the death of a member of the Armed Forces.

Flags will be at half-staff on the state Capitol building and on flag displays in the Capitol complex, and upon all public buildings, grounds, and facilities throughout the state. Individuals, businesses, schools, municipalities, counties and other government subdivisions are encouraged to fly the flag at half-staff for the same length of time as a sign of respect.

Ristau is survived by his wife, Elizabeth L. and sons, Hyle Ristau, of Tacoma, Wash., and Bradley Ristau, of Tennessee; his parents, Randy L. and Suzanne M. Ristau, of Cascade; sister Halie Ristau of Cascade; and brothers Christopher Powers of Dubuque, Iowa and Jesse Carrier of Bolivar, Mo.; grandmother Gertrude Meyer of East Dubuque, Ill. and grandfather Vernon Thomas, of Dubuque; father-in-law and mother-in-law Dan and Karen Lemley of Tacoma; and brother-in-law Collin Lemley of Tacoma.

A memorial service will be held Saturday, Aug. 4 at 11 a.m. at the Cascade City Park.

The U.S. flag flown over the state Capitol on the day of the funeral will be presented to Sgt. Ristau's family at a later date, along with a proclamation honoring him.