Wicker: Guard/Reserve Serving With Honor In War On Terror

WICKER: GUARD/RESERVE SERVING WITH HONOR IN WAR ON TERROR

With more than 175,000 National Guard and Reserve troops currently on active duty around the world, it is clear that the nation's citizen-soldiers are playing a critical role in defending our country and fighting the war on terrorism. Nowhere is that commitment of Reserve components felt more strongly than in Mississippi.

Since the first days of full-scale military operations in Afghanistan and Iraq, National Guard and Reserve personnel from our state have answered the call. The citizen-soldier tradition is strong in Mississippi, with sons and daughters proudly filling duty rosters today just as their fathers and grandfathers did before them. As this is being written, more than 4,000 Mississippi soldiers and airmen are on active duty. Since 9-11-2001, more than 8,000 Mississippians have been mobilized. These men and women are our friends, neighbors, and relatives who have made tremendous sacrifices to leave jobs and loved ones to serve the cause of freedom.

STRONG SUPPORT IN MISSISSIPPI

In the months since mobilizations began in earnest, communities throughout our state have taken action to ensure that our troops and their families left at home would not be forgotten. Prayer vigils are religious services honoring our military are regular events. Support groups have been organized to help families of servicemembers in need. Countless church, civic, and student organizations have come together to purchase and ship supplies to our troops. One veterans group compiled a book of letters written to military members from elementary school students and is using book proceeds in "support the troops" activities.

I have had the honor of attending a number of send-off ceremonies for units in Mississippi's First Congressional District, and I have also participated in celebrations for units who served tours of duty and came back to a heroes' welcome. These emotional events demonstrate the strength of that link as I have witnessed the commitment to duty in the eyes of soldiers and loved ones alike. These citizen-soldiers would rather not march off to war, but their patriotism remains strong and they understand the need to confront an enemy who seeks to destroy our country.

HONORING WOUNDED AND KILLED

I have spent time with Mississippi troops in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Tajikistan and visited wounded soldiers at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington and Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany. Their spirits and sense of optimism remain high, even among those whose injuries will require a long recovery process. Our state has also experienced the loss of 27 active duty and Reserve component soldiers in this war on terror. We honor the memory of these fallen heroes.
The backing our soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines have throughout the heartland is unwavering. I am proud that our commitment from Washington to provide equipment, training, and family support to meet this challenge also remains strong.

http://www.house.gov/wicker/Guard.htm