Political Quotes

“I thank Mr. Palazzo for hosting this Special Order this evening and recognizing the tremendous service and sacrifice of the brave men and women of the National Guard and the Reserve components of our Armed Forces. I also thank the gentleman for his service in the Mississippi Guard. It is also certainly fitting to honor these often unsung heroes as we celebrate Military Appreciation Month. While the National Guard was founded in the Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1636, the Virginia National Guard traces its history and tradition of citizen-soldier service to the founding of Jamestown in 1607. There has been a military presence defending Virginia ever since. The Virginia National Guard's current strength is 7,200 soldiers, 1,200 airmen, 300 Virginia Defense Force members, and 400 Federal and State civilians. They bring more than $250 million in annual income into the Commonwealth. The Virginia National Guard currently has more than 2,000 personnel serving on Federal Active Duty with units conducting missions in the United States, Middle East, the Horn of Africa, and Kosovo, the most since 2007. The 29th Infantry Division has the most divisional soldiers on Federal duty since World War II, with units deployed from Virginia, Kentucky, and Maryland.…”