PRESS RELEASE

February 11, 2005

 LANSING—U.S. Sen. Carl Levin received top honors from the National Guard Association of the United States after being nominated for the award by the Michigan National Guard.

 The Harry S. Truman Award was presented to Levin, the ranking Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee, during a ceremony held in Washington, D.C., at the NGAUS Ceremonial Room, Tuesday night.  Recipients of the award have made contributions of exceptional and far-reaching magnitude to the defense and security of the United States in a manner worthy of recognition at the national level.

 “Senator Levin has been a strong advocate for efforts to reduce the threat of weapons of mass destruction and terrorism to our nation and the world and for the modernization of our armed forces,” said Maj. Gen. Thomas G. Cutler, Michigan’s adjutant general.  “At the same time, he cares deeply for our troops and his sincerity is backed with action.  He has consistently fought to improve the pay, benefits, and quality of life for military members and their families.”

 For the past two and a half decades, the Truman Award has been a very distinctive form of recognition.  It is comprised of 13 pewter sculpted minutemen, representing the 13 original colonies.  Past awardees have included Gen. William Westmoreland, Bob Hope, Pres. Ronald Reagan and former Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Ridge.

 “Senator Levin is a values-based leader whose values are totally consistent with all of us who call ourselves citizen-soldiers,” said Brig. Gen. Robert V. Taylor, NGAUS chairman of the board. “He, too, has chosen to serve our nation in an honorable and sacrificial way.”

 The Truman Award is the second time the Michigan National Guard has recognized Levin for his military contributions.  In 2001, Levin received the First Michigan Volunteer Infantry Award created in honor of the first military unit, west of the Alleghenies, to respond to Pres. Lincoln’s call for volunteers at the onset of the Civil War.  When Lincoln saw the 900 soldiers of the First Michigan Volunteer Infantry Regiment, he exclaimed, “Thank God for Michigan.”

In Michigan, Levin has helped to secure millions of dollars in funding to improve Michigan National Guard facilities and training sites.  He was instrumental in fielding the nation’s most advanced fighter training system at the Alpena Combat Readiness Training Center.  He has also been an advocate and champion for the STARBASE program at the Selfridge Air National Guard Base, Mount Clemens, which serves thousands of disadvantaged children in southeastern Michigan.

 During the award ceremony, Levin thanked the Michigan National Guard for their commitment and sacrifice to serve both the state of Michigan and the nation.  He added the reason for the solid and continuing support of the soldier and the military family has been the use of the Guard and Reserve during our nation’s conflicts as it connects the American public, in every corner of the country, to the U.S. military.

 “That link, that citizen-soldier link,” said Levin, “going all the way back to when we were colonies, is now such an important part of our effort in Iraq, where our Guard and Reserve forces are serving with such incredible courage and such distinction, I think that has been one of the reasons why the American people are there for our troops.  And it’s a real tribute to you and to the role that you play.”

Today, there are more than 2,000 Michigan National Guard Soldiers and Airmen deployed across the globe including Iraq, Kuwait, and Bosnia.  An additional 100 Guard members will depart this month in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom (rotation #3); however, as the Michigan Guard serves the nation, more than 9,000 members remain, in reserve, ready to respond to state emergencies including homeland defense events.

For photographs of the ceremony, please visit the gallery at www.Michigan.gov/DMVA/News and Reports/Photos 
or contact Capt. Dawn Dancer at 517-483-5600.