[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 12]
[Senate]
[Page 17052]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                      KENTUCKY ARMY NATIONAL GUARD

  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I rise today to honor the Kentucky Army 
National Guard for surpassing its recruiting goal for the eighth 
consecutive year, a feat which appears to be without precedent in the 
U.S.
  This recent achievement is indicative of the Kentucky Army National 
Guard's strong presence and dedicated service to the Commonwealth and 
to the Nation. Over 14,000 Kentucky Army and Air National Guard troops 
have bravely served our country in overseas deployments since September 
11, 2011.
  Kentucky's National Guard has also been there to assist Kentuckians 
when disaster has struck. In the last four years alone, the 
Commonwealth's Guard has been mobilized nine times following disaster 
declarations in the State. The Guard has protected and served 
Kentuckians during and after a wide range of disasters that have 
wreaked havoc on the state, from floods and tornadoes to the 2009 ice 
storm. Kentucky's citizens owe a great debt of gratitude to the men and 
women of the Kentucky National Guard.
  Today, on the eve of Veterans Day, I wish to honor the Kentucky Army 
National Guard for its dedication to better serving Kentucky, and 
Adjutant General Edward W. Tonini on the organization's continued 
achievements.

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