Wisconsin National Guard supports governor's inauguration

Wisconsin National Guard Public Affairs Office

Continuing a tradition dating back more than eight decades, members of the Wisconsin National Guard and the state Department of Military Affairs played an important role in preparing for and helping execute the inauguration ceremony Monday (Jan. 3) for its new commander in chief, Gov. Scott Walker.

"Thanks go out to all who are participants in our ceremony today," Walker said. "I'm particularly grateful to the members of the 132nd Army Band and all other members of the Wisconsin National Guard - not only for their services today, but for the ongoing support of our many brave men and women who are deployed even as we speak. Our prayers go out to all of you."

The 132nd Army Band helped frame the ceremony with introductory music, trumpet fanfares and flourishes, and recessional music. They punctuated the inauguration with a performance of "On, Wisconsin" after Walker completed his oath of office.

"The professionalism is always important - the intensity is high," said Chief Warrant Officer 2 Brad Anderson, the 132nd Army Band's director, who has led the band in three inauguration ceremonies. "This type of ceremony isn't repeated often. There isn't room for error - you have to get it right."

Brig. Gen. Don Dunbar, the adjutant general of Wisconsin, was part of the ceremony in leading Gov. Walker and his family, as well as outgoing Gov. Jim Doyle and Jessica Doyle, to the stage. The adjutant general has historically provided guidance and assistance to the incoming governor regarding the inauguration.

Walker expressed his gratitude to Dunbar in his opening remarks, as well as all members of the Armed Forces.

Wisconsin National Guard members also presented the colors during the ceremony. Senior Master Sgt. Jeff Statz, of the Volk Field Base Honor Guard, was one of four Guard members - two Air and two Army - on the team.

"It went very well," he said after the ceremony, noting that even though this was his first inauguration, he and Master Sgt. Angela Kaverle - another Volk Field Honor Guard member - have plenty of experience with various color guard presentations.

"We're usually pretty good at changes on the fly," he said. "It's never the same thing twice."

This was the first inauguration ceremony for color guard members Sgt. Nathan Jump and Sgt. Kristine Stuhlmacher, both with Joint Force Headquarters.

"It's a bit exciting, but a bit nerve-wracking," Stuhlmacher said.

The Wisconsin National Guard Public Affairs Office worked closely with Walker's transition team on various aspects of the ceremony, ranging from the programs and tickets to protocol matters and coordination with the band and color guard.

The Wisconsin National Guard's 54th Civil Support Team supported public safety for the inauguration by assisting the Joint Hazardous Assessment Team, which included the Capitol Police, State Patrol, the Governor's Protection Detail, Dane County Sheriff's Department, Madison Police, UW-Madison Police and Dane County Communications. The 54th provided 21 members and six vehicles to collect air samples and conduct sweeps of the state Capitol Building and Monona Terrace. All samples taken returned negative results.