On the recordNovember 30, 2010
I'm proud to be an original cosponsor of this Resolution honoring our National Guard on the occasion of its 374th anniversary. The National Guard was formed on December 13, 1636 and has fought in every major American conflict since that time. Today's National Guard Soldiers and Airmen are an operational reserve that has served our country admirably in Iraq, Afghanistan, and around the world. In fact, as we honor the National Guard today, almost 3,000 Iowa National Guard Soldiers are deploying to Afghanistan--the largest deployment for our state since World War II. They have stood up an Agricultural Development Team which is helping to move the Afghan economy away from poppy production and they will help train the Afghan National Security Forces so that the Afghan people can provide for their own security. Indeed, today's National Guard is deploying in unprecedented numbers, and our National Guard families are coping with multiple deployments. And they are doing so while continuing to carry out their homeland security mission here at home--protecting our country's airspace and our communities from disasters such as the flooding that hit Iowa in 2008. So, as we honor the men and women of the National Guard today, let us thank our Citizen Soldiers, Airmen, and their families for their service to our Nation. And, during this holiday season, let us remember all of our sons and daughters who are defending our freedom overseas.
