Independence Day message from the Adjutant General of Wisconsin

As you prepare to celebrate our nation’s independence with fireworks, picnics and community events. I ask that you take just a minute to remember the importance of our nation’s Independence Day and the role the National Guard played in it.

Our common heritage dates back to 1636 when those earliest National Guard militias were formed to defend frontier families. We called out the National Guard to fight for our nation’s independence before the founding fathers signed the declaration. And those early citizen-soldiers fought a magnificent battle that helped shape and ensure the success of our great nation. Since then the National Guard has always been there in times of conflict.

Today our role remains largely the same. We defend community, state and nation. We are an operational Guard. We are Always Ready — Always There. We are immediately accessible to respond at the local, state and federal level. I am particularly proud of the 10,000 men and women who serve in Wisconsin’s National Guard. I am very grateful for the support of our families and employers in our communities.

As you’ll find on our website http://dma.wi.gov, our men and women in uniform are doing great things here in Wisconsin and around the world.

and are performing superbly, the soldiers of the 951st Sapper Company continue to conduct the dangerous mission clearing routes in Afghanistan, the airmen of the 128th Air Control Squadron are serving proudly in Southwest Asia, and two units – our 732nd Combat Sustainment Support Battalion headquarters and an Afghanistan Embedded Training Team are getting ready to accept their news assignments in the combat zone. And most recently our 115th Security Forces Squadron left Wisconsin en route to Kyrgyzstan.

Our Joint Staff just concluded a major exercise, Red Dragon, with our fellow soldiers in the Army Reserve, several of our members have been recognized at the state and national level for outstanding performance and service, and our families and community partners continue showing their support to our soldiers and airmen!

As we celebrate this wonderful holiday, our most patriotic holiday, with our families safe and secure here in Wisconsin, let us not forget the service and sacrifices all our men and women in uniform, and their families, make every day for our independence!

With that I wish you a wonderful, happy and safe holiday. Happy Fourth of July! Thank you.

Sincerely,

Donald P. Dunbar
Brigadier General (WI)
Wisconsin National Guard
The Adjutant General