Tester Honors Montana National Guard in First Floor Speech Of The Year

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.

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