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[Page H1998]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
THANKING THE PENNSYLVANIA NATIONAL GUARD FOR ITS WORK
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from
Pennsylvania (Mr. Thompson) for 5 minutes.
Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, this week I had the honor
of meeting with the Pennsylvania National Guard Association, which is
solely dedicated to more than 19,000 Guard members and more than 67,000
Guard veterans and their families.
The National Guard is an essential element of the United States
military. Founded in 1636 as a citizen force organized to protect
families and towns from hostile attacks, today's National Guard
soldiers hold civilian jobs or attend college while maintaining their
military training, always ready to defend the American way of life in
the event of an emergency.
The mission of the Pennsylvania National Guard Association is to
ensure the Pennsylvania National Guard is fully funded, manned,
equipped, and trained to perform their Federal and State missions. That
also includes ensuring that members and veterans have the benefits that
they have earned.
Mr. Speaker, the Pennsylvania National Guard mostly hails from the
Commonwealth, and they are prepared to serve the Nation at a moment's
notice. In fact, Pennsylvania Guard personnel provided extraordinary
support to areas affected by the disastrous 2018 hurricane season. They
offered aviation support, restored lines of communication, and lent a
helping hand to their fellow Americans in their time of need.
More than 1,000 Guard members assisted in domestic operations,
including snowstorms and floods. In 2018, Guard members were deployed
throughout the world in support of mobile operations. They also
participated in training events at home and abroad to enhance
readiness.
As part of its Federal mission, approximately 1,000 Pennsylvania
National Guard personnel deployed throughout the world in 2018 in
support of mobile operations, including Operation Spartan Shield,
Operation Freedom Sentinel, and missions in support of U.S. Air Force's
Central Command, Air Force Special Operations Command, and NATO.
Mr. Speaker, I had the opportunity to visit members of the Guard's
28th Infantry Division over the Thanksgiving holiday. I led a codel
last November to Kuwait, where we met with members of the 28th Infantry
Division who were deployed in support of Operation Spartan Shield.
The servicemembers that we visited, while serving honorably overseas,
were also serving in one of the Army's most historic units. The 28th
Infantry Division is the oldest continuous serving division in the
United States Army. In 1918, it earned its nickname ``Iron Division,''
fighting during World War I, and 100 years later, the same division
continues to defend freedom and liberty around the world.
Since the attacks of 9/11, more than 35,000 Pennsylvania National
Guard members have deployed overseas. In fact, Pennsylvania's Fort
Indiantown Gap is the busiest Army National Guard training center in
the Nation.
The Pennsylvania National Guard is also home to the 56th Brigade
Combat Team, which is one of the Army's nine Stryker Brigade Combat
Teams. This is a team that my son Logan belonged to when he was in the
National Guard before he went to Active Duty. It was the only National
Guard Stryker brigade in the United States Army.
Mr. Speaker, the Pennsylvania National Guard continues to serve the
Commonwealth and the Nation with pride and distinction. I look forward
to its continued success. I thank all of our citizen soldiers, past and
present, for their service.
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