LANSING, Mich. -- Today, Governor Gretchen Whitmer called actively deployed members of the Michigan Army National Guard (MIARNG) and Michigan Air National Guard (MIANG) to wish them a merry Christmas and a happy new year.
“Michiganders are grateful to the brave men and women who serve our state and nation in uniform and put their lives on the line to keep us safe,” said Governor Whitmer. “While many of us are getting ready to gather with our loved ones for Christmas or New Year’s, our deployed service members are away from their families. I was honored to speak to some of them and convey the gratitude of every Michigander. As you get ready for the holidays, I hope you join me in taking some time to honor our service members and their families and pray for their safe return home.”
Governor Whitmer spoke to Airmen currently deployed to Germany and Soldiers deployed to Romania, in support of U.S. European Command; Soldiers deployed to Iraq and Kuwait in support of U.S. Central Command; and Soldiers deployed to the Southwest Border, in support of Joint Interagency Task Force West. These brave Airmen and Soldiers are tackling a wide range of challenges in each of their respective missions, bringing their expertise in operations, logistics, transportation, firefighting, communications and security to get the job done. The Soldiers and Airmen are members of the:
217th Air Operations Group of MIANG (Battle Creek)
1440th Firefighting Detachment of MIARNG (Alpena)
272nd Regional Support Group of MIARNG (Lansing)
1463rd Transportation Company of MIARNG (Battle Creek)
“Today, there are more than 300 members of the MING serving away from their homes and families,” said U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Paul D. Rogers, adjutant general and director of the Michigan Department of Military and Veterans Affairs. “Whether providing logistics and operations management, force protection or supporting the federal law enforcement mission at the Southwest Border their selflessness and loyalty to their mission should be honored. We look forward to welcoming each unit and individual home safely to their families.”
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