[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 139 (Tuesday, October 1, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1887]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        CONGRATULATIONS TO THE NATIONAL GUARD ON ITS ANNIVERSARY

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                      HON. G.V. (SONNY) MONTGOMERY

                             of mississippi

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, September 30, 1996

  Mr. MONTGOMERY. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to 
congratulate and wish a happy anniversary to an organization I have 
seen grow from infancy to the largest of the National Guard 
associations and the largest of all Enlisted Reserve component 
organizations in this great country of ours, the Enlisted Association 
of the National Guard of the United States [EANGUS].
  This organization truly holds a special place in my heart. I have 
helped nurture it over the past 20-some years and have watched it grow 
and branch out to do exceptional work for our enlisted men and women 
who serve in the National Guard of these United States.
  When EANGUS was first formed in 1970, and incorporated in 1972 in 
Jackson, MS, I don't think any of its forefathers thought it would grow 
into being the extremely successful organization that it has become.
  What has made EANGUS so successful? The answer is simple, we have to 
look at its history. It was nurtured by people like Bob Spencer from 
South Dakota, Virgil Williams (deceased) from my home State of 
Mississippi, Jim Garritson from Iowa, Tony Nathe from Minnesota, John 
Ball from South Dakota, Nate Monastra from Ohio, and Bobby Dempsey from 
Arkansas. These individuals served the National Guard for many years in 
their military career. They continue to serve the National Guard as the 
founders and the forefathers of this great organization. Even in 
retirement today, they continue to serve and look out for the welfare 
of the enlisted members of the National Guard.
  Look at EANGUS' leadership today. The president is M. Sgt. Blain D. 
Ross, an Air National Guard sergeant in South Dakota who is also a 
sergeant on the police force in Brandon, SD. The executive director, M. 
Sgt. Mike Cline, is a 25-year veteran whose lovely wife, Dian Cline, 
serves in the Maryland Air National Guard. His oldest son, Mike, is a 
9-year Army veteran who lost his job during the Los Angeles 
earthquakes, but when the call came, he answered. His younger son, 
John, is a 4-year Air Force veteran who now serves in the Ohio Air 
National Guard.
  The Guard is a family. The Guard is always there, ready to serve, 
whether the call is to fight a flood or a forest fire, to calm civil 
disturbances or to serve our country in time of the war such as 
Vietnam, the Persian Gulf, Bosnia. The Guard is there.
  Many of this association's accomplishments not only benefit the 
enlisted National Guard member, but they benefit all reservists, 
officer or enlisted, Army Reserve or Marine Corps Reserve. Some of 
EANGUS' accomplishments are the commissary privileges, gray-area 
retiree issues, PX/BX exchange privileges, the VA Home Loan Program, 
the VA burial bill for National Guard and Reserve members in national 
cemeteries, transition benefits, increase in IDT points; the list goes 
on and on. This organization today fights to preserve its heritage, the 
heritage of the National Guard and look out for the welfare of the 
enlisted people.
  I will always have a special place in my heart for EANGUS. This 
organization has its reception area named in my honor, an organization 
which created an award, which is presented to a member of congress each 
year, in my honor, and an organization which I'm told has a chandelier 
hanging in it that is older than my good friend, Senator Strom Thurmond 
of South Carolina.
  So it is my hope and desire that when this organization comes 
knocking on your door and is bringing an issue that they consider of 
dire importance, that you will take the time to listen because chances 
are, that issue is going to impact not only the 400,000+ enlisted 
members of the National Guard but more than 1,000,000 reservists who 
stand ready to protect and serve this great Nation, their families and 
their communities.
  So on their 25th anniversary, I commend the work of this great 
organization and what it has done to enhance the lives of the enlisted 
National Guard member, and the reserve components in general. Happy 
anniversary, EANGUS!

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