July 2 , 2007
Dear Fellow Nebraskans:
The last few weeks have had several highs and lows for many military families in our state. As we prepare to celebrate our nation’s independence, I wanted to take this opportunity to salute the men and women of the Nebraska National Guard and our nation’s armed forces.
As we have been reminded as several Nebraska communities paid tribute to soldiers who were killed while serving in Iraq, there will always be those who are called to make the ultimate sacrifice in service to our country. We are all impacted by their loss and I know that people across our state are eager to provide whatever comfort and support we can to the families and loved ones left behind. For now, we say thank you to the soldiers who gave all in the face of a very challenging mission, and pledge that their sacrifices will not be forgotten.
While there have been some challenging days in recent weeks, I think it’s fair to say that a recent Sunday morning was a high point for many Nebraska Guard soldiers and their families.
Members of the 1-167th Cavalry and the 134th Long Range Surveillance Infantry Detachment were welcomed home after a record-setting deployment of 23 months in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
I had the opportunity to greet some of the soldiers as they arrived in Lincoln and rode with them along an impromptu parade route though our capital city, accompanied by hundreds of Patriot Guard riders. As we made our way across town, we saw thousands of Nebraskans lining the streets cheering as the buses drove by on their way to deliver the soldiers to their families. It was truly inspiring to see so many turn out to show their support and their gratitude to these soldiers.
It’s true of all our servicemen and women, but these troops in particular showed incredible commitment to their mission when their tour was extended earlier this year. They rose to the challenge in one of the countless instances of professionalism and determination demonstrated by the members of the Nebraska National Guard in recent years. We are so grateful for their service, and we are even more grateful to have them home once again.
As we prepared to welcome home the latest Nebraska units, we also had one other very important announcement, which was that Nebraska’s Adjutant General, Maj. Gen. Roger Lempke, is planning to retire from his position as head of the Nebraska Military Department this fall.
Gen. Lempke is one of the very best our nation has to offer, and I feel very privileged to have had the opportunity to work with him. He has done an outstanding job leading the Nebraska National Guard during its most demanding era since World War II, overseeing the mobilizations and deployments of more than 4,000 Nebraska soldiers and airmen to locations around the world since 2001, in addition to coordinating the Guard’s response to several state and federal emergencies.
I have great respect for his leadership and I know that leading such a dedicated group of soldiers and airmen has been the highlight of his military career. Nebraska has been made a better state as a result of his years of service.
On behalf of all Nebraskans, I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to all of our servicemen and women this Independence Day, and I want to encourage all Nebraskans to take time during celebrations with friends and family to remember those who’ve been called to duty in service to our state and nation. They are examples to all of us, and we are grateful for all that they do to protect and defend this great country.
