As we bring another productive year to a close, EANGUS wishes you and your family a very, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. We look forward to 2017 when we will call the National Guard Memorial Building at 1 Massachusetts Ave in Washington, D.C., our home. We will be in our own suite on the top floor, with plenty of space and a presence that truly represents a level of professionalism that our organization deserves. This move comes at the calling of our membership and after a year’s worth of work by your Executive Council, we have finally made it happen. We are eager to work with the new Administration in the White House, a new Congress on Capitol Hill, new Enlisted and Officer Leaders within the National Guard Bureau, and our new neighbor, the National Guard Association of the United States (NGAUS).
After years of work, we have finally updated the federal definition of Veteran to include those National Guard members who served 20 years, yet did not have the opportunity to deploy in a federal active duty status. This victory recognizes the service and sacrifice of our National Guard men and women, who were a part of the Cold War, responded to every natural disaster, maintained the same training standards of our active duty counterparts, and fulfilled their end of the agreement, only go be told by the nation that they were not Veterans. It was wrong, and this legislation brings us closer to recognizing what it means to be a member of the National Guard.
But perhaps our best example of what it means to be in the Guard was show at this year’s Annual Conference in New Orleans, where mother nature decided to flood the area around Baton Rouge just days prior to the start of the event. In true form, the State Associations ran towards the fight rather than away from it, and I am honored to say that in 3 days, we raised $82,000+ in donations for National Guard members affected by the storm. We maxed out the capacity of the volunteer agencies when 113 attendees from 38 different states pitched in and volunteered in New Orleans by sorting clothing, boxing up supplies, and loading trucks. It was a proud moment for everyone and it showed that even after you leave National Guard service, you never stop serving.
To the more than 10,000 men and women of the National Guard who will be away from their families this Holiday Season, we want you to know that you are in our thoughts and prayers. Look out for each other and keep an eye on your fellow service member. We appreciate what you do in preserving our nation’s freedom. You are truly one of America’s greatest gifts.
We received notice today that EANGUS lost Past President CMSgt (Ret) Alan Obermiller, who served EANGUS in 1990 as the first Executive Director of EANGUS. Decades ago, he and Euline sacrificed the comfort of California and moved to D.C. to make EANGUS a viable Association. Please keep the Obermiller Family in your thoughts and prayers while we wish them peace and comfort at this time.
Warmest Regards,
JOHN M. HARRIS
CMSgt, ANG Retired
President