Time to give National Guard of 370 Years some Benefits
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| Also listed in: Fighting Dems | MinnVets | MN Democratic Women | Tim Walz for Congress |
Dear friends:
This week marked the 370th anniversary of a militia that has provided for the common defense of the residents of North America. They're called the National Guard. And they've been called to serve their country beyond its borders during times of crisis, especially the last four years. The nearly 3000 Guard members deployed from Minnesota come from over 500 communities.
When the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee asked for my input on what they should accomplish in the first 100 hours, I filled out their survey, and put the text [below] in the survey text box. It reflects my sentiments on what should be the priority of the 110th Congress to provide for the citizens that have given the most in the service of their country. If you share my priority of extending the same benefits to members of the National Guard deployed in federal service as given to the Active and Reserve Military, I hope you will 'sound off' and make it known to the DCCC via their survey. Please consider sharing your priorities with your elected members of the 110th Congress also.
Nancy G
Chair, Veterans Caucus
Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party
(Minnesota)
--
"The National Guard has been deployed in Federal service extensively since 2003 to perform the same missions as the Active Military and Reserve, without the same benefits.
Congress should appropriate the same benefits, especially Tricare and Federal Education assistance, to Guard members. Tricare would be helpful to retain soldiers and make citizen-soldiers attractive to prospective employers who may have to accept the new fact that the employee-soldier is going to be deployed more often.
These benefits should have been appropriated in 2003, before the Guard was deployed overseas. I hope the 110th Congress can accomplish this ASAP in 2007. This recognition is way overdue to a militia that has provided for the common defense for 370 years, beginning in Colonial days in 1636, over 150 years before the Constitution was ratified."
Website Marks National Guard Birthday
Army News Service | December 13, 2006
WASHINGTON -- The National Guard turned 370 years old, and the National Guard Bureau is celebrating with a website dedicated to the organization and its history.
The site, Link, chronicles the Guard's history, starting in 1636 when the General Court of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, which functioned as the colony's legislature, ordered existing militia companies from the towns surrounding Boston to form into three regiments: North, South and East.
The American colonies adopted the English militia system, which obligated all males to possess arms and participate in the defense of the community, according to the site. The need for a colonial militia was ratified in the Constitution, and since then, Congress has enacted several militia and defense acts to strengthen the National Guard.
In a letter commemorating the birthday, Marine Gen. Peter Pace, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, thanked the members of the National Guard for serving valiantly in times of war and peace.
The National Guard has made up a significant portion of the forces deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan. At one point in 2005, half of the combat brigades in Iraq were Army National Guard, according to information on the Web site. The Guard is playing a more active role than ever before, integrating with active forces in combat, humanitarian and peacekeeping missions, information on the site says.
The Web site lists information from each period in the National Guard's history and details of some state-sponsored events commemorating the 370th birthday.
www.ngb.army.mil
This week marked the 370th anniversary of a militia that has provided for the common defense of the residents of North America. They're called the National Guard. And they've been called to serve their country beyond its borders during times of crisis, especially the last four years. The nearly 3000 Guard members deployed from Minnesota come from over 500 communities.
When the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee asked for my input on what they should accomplish in the first 100 hours, I filled out their survey, and put the text [below] in the survey text box. It reflects my sentiments on what should be the priority of the 110th Congress to provide for the citizens that have given the most in the service of their country. If you share my priority of extending the same benefits to members of the National Guard deployed in federal service as given to the Active and Reserve Military, I hope you will 'sound off' and make it known to the DCCC via their survey. Please consider sharing your priorities with your elected members of the 110th Congress also.
Nancy G
Chair, Veterans Caucus
Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party
(Minnesota)
--
"The National Guard has been deployed in Federal service extensively since 2003 to perform the same missions as the Active Military and Reserve, without the same benefits.
Congress should appropriate the same benefits, especially Tricare and Federal Education assistance, to Guard members. Tricare would be helpful to retain soldiers and make citizen-soldiers attractive to prospective employers who may have to accept the new fact that the employee-soldier is going to be deployed more often.
These benefits should have been appropriated in 2003, before the Guard was deployed overseas. I hope the 110th Congress can accomplish this ASAP in 2007. This recognition is way overdue to a militia that has provided for the common defense for 370 years, beginning in Colonial days in 1636, over 150 years before the Constitution was ratified."
From: "Rahm Emanuel, DCCC Chair"
Date: December 14, 2006
Subject: Share Your Ideas
Complete our 100 Hours survey and make your voice heard!
On November 7th the American people placed their trust and hopes for the future in the hands of the Democratic Party.
Americans everywhere are counting on the new Democratic majority to restore integrity, civility and fiscal responsibility to our nation's capital as we lead our country in a new direction.
I am asking you - a committed Democrat who contributed to our historic victory -- to share your ideas, thoughts and opinions as we pursue our priorities in the first 100 legislative hours of the new 110th Congress.
Please take a few minutes to complete the attached survey and share your ideas with me and other Democratic Party leaders.
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We campaigned on issues that address the most urgent needs of the American people. Now that we are in the majority, we will work tirelessly to enact these priorities to improve the lives of the American people.
Your input on which issues are most important to you will help us formulate our strategy and guide our work in the first weeks of the new Congress.
Thank you for taking the time to complete the 100 Hour Survey and sharing your ideas and thoughts with me and my colleagues.
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Link
Website Marks National Guard Birthday
Army News Service | December 13, 2006
WASHINGTON -- The National Guard turned 370 years old, and the National Guard Bureau is celebrating with a website dedicated to the organization and its history.
The site, Link, chronicles the Guard's history, starting in 1636 when the General Court of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, which functioned as the colony's legislature, ordered existing militia companies from the towns surrounding Boston to form into three regiments: North, South and East.
"These first Minutemen answered the call, banding together for the common defense, an effort which grew nationwide to protect towns, states, and ultimately the nation from all enemies, civil, natural and foreign," Lt. Gen. H Steven Blum, chief of the National Guard Bureau, wrote in a letter on the site.
The American colonies adopted the English militia system, which obligated all males to possess arms and participate in the defense of the community, according to the site. The need for a colonial militia was ratified in the Constitution, and since then, Congress has enacted several militia and defense acts to strengthen the National Guard.
"Today, more than 50,000 citizen-Soldiers and airmen are serving overseas as part of the global war on terror," Blum wrote in his letter. "Over 9,000 are serving here at home in domestic missions such as supporting our nation's efforts to secure our borders, guarding critical infrastructure and providing emergency response to our governors.
"Not unlike those Minutemen 370 years ago, today's Guard members are citizens who believe that an organized militia is essential to the common defense. With centuries of courage, commitment and tradition behind them, the National Guard proudly remains always ready, always there."
In a letter commemorating the birthday, Marine Gen. Peter Pace, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, thanked the members of the National Guard for serving valiantly in times of war and peace.
"We simply could not sustain current operations without the National Guard," Pace wrote. "The courage and sacrifice of every Guard member are truly inspiring. Your outstanding service as citizen-Soldiers comforts those in need and protects our homeland."
The National Guard has made up a significant portion of the forces deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan. At one point in 2005, half of the combat brigades in Iraq were Army National Guard, according to information on the Web site. The Guard is playing a more active role than ever before, integrating with active forces in combat, humanitarian and peacekeeping missions, information on the site says.
The Web site lists information from each period in the National Guard's history and details of some state-sponsored events commemorating the 370th birthday.
www.ngb.army.mil
