Political Quotes

“Madam President, I rise to congratulate Scott Thoele (``Taylee'') of the Illinois Army National Guard on his promotion to brigadier general. General Thoele, as a colonel, led the Illinois Army National Guard during its deployment last year to Afghanistan. He commanded the 33rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, whose soldiers served in that country from August 2008 to September 2009. The mobilization of his soldiers was the Illinois Guard's largest since World War Two. Most of these men and women are civilian-soldiers from cities and towns across Illinois. They have their own lives separate from service in our Armed Forces. Most do not serve full time in the Guard. In the midst of living their lives--working at their jobs, spending time with their families, and participating in their communities--they have made a patriotic commitment to their country. They have said, if my Nation needs me to serve and to fight abroad, I will answer the call. And last year, 3,000 soldiers from Illinois left their jobs, their families, and their communities to serve at the call of their Nation. General Thoele is one of those soldiers. He lives in Quincy, IL, with his wife and four children. In his civilian life, he works at First Bankers Trust Company in the bank's audit department. This was a difficult deployment for the Illinois Army National Guard. They spent the year in Afghanistan in austere conditions.…”