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PHOENIX - Members of the Arizona Army National Guard will be speaking to students and American Legion members about what it’s like to serve post-9/11 and what it is to be a patriot of the U.S. Sept. 11.
Lt. Col. Joseph A. Haro will be addressing a contingent of American Legion members about the effects on the guard while Staff Sgt. Kevin Sartor will be speaking to students at Peoria Traditional School about the history behind Sept. 11 and his role afterwards.
“I want to impart that Sept. 11 was a major defining moment in American history,” Haro said. “I would also like to highlight the enormous contributions of the reserve components.”
After more than 10 years of service in at least one theater of operation, the Arizona Guard has become more experienced with being on a deployment schedule.
“At this time we are the most experienced National Guard since World War II and that is due in large part to the non-commissioned officers stepping up,” Haro said.
Haro, the secretary to the general staff for the Arizona National Guard, will cover topics ranging from the advancement in the quality in soldiers after Sept. 11 to the improvement of the guard when it isn’t on deployment.
“We as a guard have definitely made advancements like improving inter-agency cooperation to the highest levels since Sept. 11,” Haro said. “We have also seen a high caliber of soldier rise to the occasion during this high operation tempo.”
Haro made it clear that the support the guard receives from the community plays a vital role in the success of Arizona Guard availability and capabilities.
The out pour of support from organizations like the American Legion is major to our mission - without them we can’t do our jobs,” said Haro.
Sartor, a recruiter for the Arizona National Guard recruiting and retention, and a high school football coach and mentor, wants to convey the atmosphere of the nation to the students in order to gain a better understanding as to why he joined the Army.
“We saw the images on television of the towers being hit and we saw how the nation came together afterwards,” Sartor said. “We need to ensure our younger generations, who do not remember or were not around to have witnessed it, understand the impact that day had on our nation, and how it will continue to affect us for a long time.”
Stephanie Hoholy, mother of a Peoria Traditional School student, sees this as an opportunity for her daughter to gain some invaluable information.
“They have the chance to learn about the military, their sacrifices and a sense of honor and respect for these men and women,” Hoholy said.
There are benefits for the guardsmen like Sartor who take the time out to talk to the younger generations.
“I believe that guardsmen can gain some encouragement and a renewed hope of their service,” said Hoholy.
Sartor will be speaking at 8:30 a.m. at Peoria Traditional School, and Haro will be speaking at American Legion Post 41 in downtown Phoenix at 6 p.m.
| Date Taken: | 09.10.2012 |
| Date Posted: | 09.10.2012 23:45 |
| Story ID: | 94485 |
| Location: | PHOENIX, ARIZONA, US |
| Web Views: | 141 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Guard members pause to remember 9/11 with community, by SFC Adrian Borunda, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
