Some prominent NGAUS award recipients couldn't make it to the 128th General Conference to receive their recognition, so retired Brig. Gen. Stephen M. Koper provided the next best thing: He took the awards to them.
The association president traveled New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Tennesee last month to present awards to several Guard supporters, including the Charles Dick Medal of Merit to two governors and a member of the U.S. House of Representatives.
The Dick Medal is named after Maj. Gen. Charles Dick, a NGAUS president and U.S. Senator. He spearheaded passage of the Dick Acts of 1903 and 1908, which established the foundation of today's Guard. NGAUS limits the award to lawmakers and governors.
"Obviously, our first choice is always to recognize our honoree in front of 3,000 people at our conference," he said. "When that isn't possible, we look for alternative ways to show our appreciation to our honorees in a manner that also spotlights NGAUS."
General Koper's first trip was Oct. 4 to Harrisburg, Pa., where he presented the Dick Medal to Gov. Edward G. Rendell before an audience of Pennsylvania Guard soldiers and airmen in the state capitol.
NGAUS recognized Mr. Rendell for his role in new state programs that cover deployed Guardsmen's life insurance premiums, provide more time for all Guardsmen to utilize educational programs and offer free college tuition to the family members of fallen Guardsmen.
"Our servicemen and women have always been there for us," Mr. Rendell said duirng the ceremony. "We have a responsibility to provide the resources they need to do their jobs effectively and provide comfort and security to their families."
General Koper traveled to Lawrenceville, NJ., to help New Jersey Guard officials present a Dick Medal to Rep. Rush Holt, D-NJ., during a ceremony at the American Legion Post 414 Oct. 12.
The group also bestowed the NGAUS Patrick Henry Medal on three New Jersey community leaders: State Assemblyman Jack Conners, Hamilton Township Mayor Glenn D. Gilmore and Eric S. Spevak, managing partner of the law firm of Adinolfi & Spevak.
The next day, General Koper presented a Dick Medal to Tennessee Gov. Phil Bredesen at the Air Guard base in Nashville.
In one of his first acts as governor in 2003, Mr. Bredesen signed Executive Order 4, establishing supplemental pay to support state employees who also serve in the National Guard and their families during deployment.
To date, an estimated 482 state employees have benefited from the initiative, including those who provided emergency relief after Hurricane Katrina and those now providing assistance to the U.S. Border Patrol.
"I accept this award on behalf of Tennessee's men and women who place themselves in harm's way to serve our state and our nation," Mr. Bredesen said during the ceremony. "This award represents the sacrifices that our soldiers and their loved ones continue to make to answer the call of service, and I want to take this opportunity to honor them."
© 2006 National Guard Association of the United States Provided by ProQuest LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Source: National Guard
