Tester honors Montana National Guard in first floor speech of the year

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) – During his first Senate floor speech of the new year, Senator Jon Tester thanked deploying members of the Montana National Guard and vowed to continue serving them “as honored veterans when they come home.”

Tester specifically thanked members of the National Guard who have already left Montana or will leave to serve this month.

This past week, 46 members of the Montana Air National Guard left Montana for training to serve a mission in Kyrgyzstan.  Another 120 soldiers of the Montana National Guard’s 639th Quartermaster Battalion left Helena for an eventual mission in Iraq.  And later this month, 63 soldiers from the National Guard’s 189th Aviation Battalion will go to Ft. Sill to prepare for a tour in Iraq.

“We feel a great deal of pride when sending our strongest and most dedicated Montanans overseas,” Tester said.  “We feel a great deal of hope too.  Leaving Montana to answer the call of duty isn't just another assignment.  It's a symbol of commitment and courage.  We'll always appreciate their service.  Their hard work.  And their willingness to protect Montana and America.”

Tester also thanked the families, friends, and communities of outgoing National Guard troops.  He noted that when 229 men and women answer the call of duty in a state like Montana, “it impacts a great deal of the state.”

“Businesses lose talented members of their workforce,” Tester said.  “Cities and towns lose cops, firefighters, doctors and other professionals in the community.  nd most importantly of all, families have an empty seat at the dinner table.  Family schedules get changed.  Mothers and fathers become single parents for a while.  Americans will never forget the sacrifices National Guard families make at home.”

Tester is a member of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee.  He said he looks forward to serving all deploying men and women when they return home.

Tester’s speech, as prepared for delivery, is below.

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U.S. Senator Jon Tester
Floor Speech
January 8, 2009
Prepared for Delivery

Mr. President, as we begin this new year and this new Congress, I would like to ask the Senate to stop and reflect on the service of the men and women of our military.  Every day, hundreds of thousands of men and women in all branches of our military are performing jobs that place them in harm’s way and at the tip of the spear. 

In particular, I would like to thank the 229 men and women of the Montana National Guard who have deployed or will be deploying this month. 

Just in the past week 46 Airmen from the Montana Air National Guard security forces left the sub-zero temperatures in Montana for training at Ft. Bliss, Texas.  From there, they will head to Kyrgyzstan.

Another 120 soldiers of the Montana National Guard’s 639th Quartermaster Battalion left Helena for Ft. Lewis, Washington before they leave for Iraq.

And later this month, 63 soldiers from our 189th Aviation Battalion will go to Ft. Sill to prepare for a tour in Iraq.

We feel a great deal of pride when sending our strongest and most dedicated Montanans overseas.  We feel a great deal of hope too.

Leaving Montana to answer the call of duty isn't just another assignment.  It's a symbol of commitment and courage.  We'll always appreciate their service.  Their hard work.  And their willingness to protect Montana and America.

Mr. President, they say Montana is just a small town with a lot of long streets.  And that means that when 229 Guardsmen deploy overseas, it impacts a great deal of the state. 

Businesses lose talented members of their workforce.  Cities and towns lose cops, firefighters, doctors and other professionals in the community.

And most importantly of all, families have an empty seat at the dinner table.  Family schedules get changed.  Mothers and fathers become single parents for a little while.

Americans will never forget the sacrifices National Guard families make at home.

Sharla and I join all Montanans in sending our thoughts and prayers as these men and women complete their mission.  And as Montana’s only member of the Veterans’ Affairs Committee, I look forward to continuing to serve them as honored veterans when they all come home.

Mr. President, I yield the floor.