'Day of the Deployed’ Honors Duty, Dedication of Service Members (10/26/2012)

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Maj. Gen. David Sprynczynatyk, N.D. adjutant general (left), Congressman Rick Berg, and Senator John Hoeven watch as Gov. Jack Dalrymple (seated) prepares to sign the state proclamation recognizing today as “Day of the Deployed” at Bismarck State College on Oct. 26, 2012. This is the seventh annual “Day of the Deployed” for North Dakota and more than 40 other governors have also signed proclamations, marking Oct. 26 as an annual day of respect for the deployed. Nationally, the Senate passed a similar resolution recognizing deployed service members on this day. (photo by Capt. Dan Murphy, N.D. National Guard Public Affairs.)

BISMARCK, N.D. — A ceremony celebrating the seventh annual North Dakota “Day of the Deployed” and the second annual national observance was held today at Bismarck State College. The ceremony was arranged by Military Ovation, a non-profit organization, and featured representatives from the North Dakota National Guard (NDNG), Air Force, community leaders and military Family.

Gov. Jack Dalrymple proclaimed today, Oct. 26, the “Day of the Deployed” in North Dakota to recognize the state’s deployed military members and their families for their service and sacrifice.

“The Day of the Deployed is a day to recognize and thank our servicemen and women who are currently deployed here at home and in foreign lands for the outstanding job they are doing on our behalf and for their willingness to step up and make a difference for their state, their nation and their world," said Gov. Jack Dalrymple, who attended today's ceremony. “We thank all of our deployed military members and their families for their service and sacrifice, and look forward to welcoming them back home to North Dakota.”

The event began in 2006 in North Dakota, but this year marked the second time the day will be celebrated on a national level annually as Congress unanimously passed a resolution proposed by U.S. Senator John Hoeven. The “Day of the Deployed” is to honor the nation’s deployed service members and their Families. Hoeven spoke during the ceremony and thanked service members for their dedication and selfless service.

While governor, Hoeven was the first to officially set aside a day of recognition for the deployed, and since then more than 40 other governors have signed proclamations, as well, marking Oct. 26 as an annual day of respect for the deployed.

“We acknowledge the daily sacrifices of not only the deployed men and women of all branches of our military services, but their Families as well. It is because of their support and the support of our communities and our employers, we are able to answer the call to service both at home and abroad,” said Maj. Gen. David Sprynczynatyk, N.D. adjutant general, speaking on behalf of the NDNG.

This ceremony was broadcast via a live feed across the United States and to North Dakota National Guardsmen deployed to Afghanistan.

Other speakers included Congressman Rick Berg; Ross Keys for Sen. Kent Conrad; Col. Tim Bush, commander, 319th Air Base Wing, Grand Forks Air Force Base, Military Ovation Board of Trustee Teresa Carrigan; service member Spc. Brandon Carrigan, who recently returned from a year-long deployment to Kosovo with the N.D. Army National Guard's 1st Battalion, 112th Aviation Regiment.

The movement was started by Soldiers’ Angels, a volunteer-led nonprofit, with over 20 different teams and programs supporting all branches of the U.S. Armed Forces. Volunteers send letters, care packages, and comfort items to the deployed, and support their Families here at home. Soldiers’ Angels also provide assistance to the wounded, continuing support for veterans, remembrances and comfort for Families of the fallen and immediate response to unique situations.

For more information: N.D. Governor's proclamation and U.S. Senate resolution 581.

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Since the 2001 terrorist attacks on America, the North Dakota National Guard has mobilized nearly 3,900 Soldiers and more than 1,800 Airmen in support of the Global War on Terrorism. About 70 percent of all members serving today have joined since that time. Currently, nearly 200 North Dakota Guardsmen are serving overseas while more than 4,000 remain in the state for emergency response and national defense. For every 10,000 citizens in North Dakota, 65 serve in the North Dakota National Guard, a rate that’s more than four times the national average.

High resolution photos at flickr set "2012 - Day of the Deployed"

Maj. Gen. David Sprynczynatyk, N.D. adjutant general (left), Congressman Rick Berg along with members of the North Dakota National Guard watch as Sen. John Hoeven (seated) prepares to sign the Senate’s resolution proclaiming today as the second annual national “Day of the Deployed” at Bismarck State College on Oct. 26, 2012. The U.S. Senate unanimously passed a resolution sponsored by Hoeven, and as governor, he was the first state official to aside a day of recognition for the deployed in 2006. Since then more than 40 other governors have signed proclamations, marking Oct. 26 as an annual day of respect for the deployed. (photo by Capt. Dan Murphy, N.D. National Guard Public Affairs)

Maj. Gen. David Sprynczynatyk, N.D. adjutant general, renders remarks during a ceremony celebrating the seventh annual North Dakota “Day of the Deployed” and the second annual national observance to recognize the state’s deployed military members and their families for their service and sacrifice at a ceremony held today at Bismarck State College. More than 40 other governors have signed proclamations, as well, marking Oct. 26 as an annual day of respect for the deployed. The ceremony was arranged by Military Ovation, a non-profit organization, and featured representatives from the National Guard, Air Force, community leaders and military Family. (photo by Capt. Dan Murphy, N.D. National Guard Public Affairs.)