Wisconsin National Guard Public Affairs Office Senior Wisconsin National Guard leaders recognized Airmen for deployments and meritorious service at Volk Field Combat Readiness Training Center Dec. 3 and the 128th Air Refueling Wing in Milwaukee Dec. 4.
"Every Air National Guard family member has proudly served and supported the Air National Guard mission," master of ceremonies 1st Lt. Orman House said at the Volk Field ceremony Dec. 3. "We hope that every spouse or significant other, child and extended family member knows the important role they have in what we do."
Gov. Scott Walker, commander-in-chief of the Wisconsin National Guard, thanked the Airmen at Volk Field for their service and sacrifice.
"We take it for granted that, come Christmastime we'll have our families together, and many of you won't always be together with family," he said. "We appreciate that sacrifice.
"You are the best and brightest we have to offer in this state," Walker continued. "Not just when you're deployed, but for what you do every day. Thank you for what you're doing to be willing, prepared and qualified to accept that call when it comes. If we didn't have the National Guard, we would not be the country we are today."
Brig. Gen. John McCoy, commander of the Wisconsin Air National Guard, observed that the term "hometown hero" may call to mind sports legends.
"I like to talk about our heroes, and really America's true heroes," McCoy said. "They don't have numbers on the front and back of their uniforms. We truly are the Citizen Soldiers, Citizen Airmen, citizen military that this country depends on."
Maj. Gen. Don Dunbar, adjutant general of Wisconsin, told Airmen at Volk Field that Congress recently recommended that the chief of the National Guard be given a seat on the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and that it was the performance of the Soldiers and Airmen of the National Guard who prompted that action.
"There was a time when our country thought it was better to do all this without the National Guard," Dunbar said. "Not today - we are part of that team. And you, each and every person in this room, you bring the Air Force values - integrity, service before self, excellence in all we do - to everything you do. I couldn't be prouder of the men and women in this room."
Volk Field Airmen of the year were recognized as well. Staff Sgt. Ryan Swieter was named Airman of the Year, Staff Sgt. Jacqueline Griffis was named Noncommissioned Officer of the Year, Master Sgt. Michael Mullenberg was named Senior Noncommissioned Officer of the Year, and Capt. Anthony Hart was named Company Grade Officer of the Year. They will advance for consideration at the state level. Col. Gary Ebben, Volk Field commander, noted that Senior Master Sgt. Jessica Maple, a member of the 128th Air Control Squadron, was named the 2010 Senior Noncommissioned Officer for the entire Air National Guard.
"That's 106,000 across the nation," Ebben said. "So there's no reason that, potentially, one of the folks identified today can't end up in those same shoes."
Master Sgt. Kenneth Williamson was recognized as the 2011 Honor Guard Member of the Year, and Master Sgt. Brian Gruber received the 2011 Lt. Col. Thomas A. Reis Citizenship Award.
"This ceremony is not about the general officers, command chief or special guests," Col. Ted Metzgar, commander of the 128th Air Refueling Wing, said in Milwaukee Dec. 4. "It is about you, who have sacrificed so much."
McCoy agreed.
"It's important that we recognize the fact that you've deployed," he said Dec. 4. "I truly appreciate what you do every day, either here or abroad.
"We do the work America asked of us."
Master Sgt. Jeffrey Venus, a 128th Civil Engineering firefighter, said the Hometown Hero award he received was more for his family than himself. "It’s for their staying home while I was over there," he said.
"That's why we do what we do," added Master Sgt. Mike Schmaling, the first sergeant of the 128th Mission Group.
Schmaling and Command Chief Master Sgt. Joe Parlato were presented with detailed European swords in wooden display cases for their duty and service to both the 128th Air Refueling Wing and the 313th Air Expeditionary Wing.
"These guys, in a figurative way, slew a lot of dragons," Metzgar said, explaining the "dragons" as continuous and demanding rigors of working in a deployed location while being available to the deployed Airmen of the 313th Air Expeditionary Wing at all times and for all causes. The Hometown Heroes Salute campaign began in 2008 to recognize Airmen, their families and communities.
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