Governor Sarah Palin, seen here with Command Sgt. Maj. Turnbull, Rep. Wes Keller, Rep. Nancy Dahlstrom, and Sgt. Maj. Choate, signs SJR 17, declaring 2009 the “Year of the Non-Commissioned Officer.” Governor Palin also signed an executive proclamation declaring the “Day of the Non-Commissioned Officer” in Alaska.
Alaska Governor Sarah Palin declared 2009 to be the “Year of the Non-Commissioned Officer” (NCO) and June 14 to be the “Day of the Non-Commissioned Officer.” The declaration ceremony was held on June 17, 2009 at Fort Rich (Palin, 2009, ¶1).
Proclamation: Day of the Non-Commissioned Officer
WHEREAS, the United States Army’s Noncommissioned Officer Corps, the backbone of the Army, has served our country with distinction in every conflict in which the United States has participated; and
WHEREAS, United States Army noncommissioned officers perform as leaders, mentors, standard bearers, technicians, tacticians, and consummate professional warriors in their leadership, commitment, courage, dedication, and accomplishments, on and off the battlefield; and
WHEREAS, United States Army Sergeants have but one watchword, competence, as they strive to fulfill two basic but critical responsibilities: one, to accomplish the mission, and two, and to look out for the welfare of their soldiers; and
WHEREAS, Alaska’s Arctic Warriors are a very special kind of service member, trained in an extreme environment, together with her sister services, with cold weather challenges as real and dangerous as any found on the battlefield. The noncommissioned officers of the Great Land steadfastly work to ensure mission accomplishment in any environment; and
WHEREAS, noncommissioned officers safeguard the well-being of their subordinates, despite greater personal risk, whether deployed or at home in the Last Frontier;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, Sarah Palin, Governor of the state of Alaska, do hereby proclaim June 14, 2009 as:
Day of the Noncommissioned Officer
in Alaska, and encourage all citizens to honor these dedicated officers.
Dated: June 9, 2009
Commentary
Those who serve in our military will be hard-pressed to find a better friend and advocate than Governor Palin. Whether it is ensuring that soldiers receive awards long overdue, visiting the wounded in hospitals, offering simple recognition at rallies, being the only one to speak out when a recruiter was murdered for political reasons, and fighting to ensure her state can defend against international threats — service members have a friend, advocate and guardian angel in their Commander in Chief from Alaska — Governor Palin.
Doesn’t our Commander in Chief reside in Washington, D.C.? Theoretically, yes. But he seems to have “other priorities.” So, Governor Palin is doing his job for him — and doing it very well. In 1311 days, she might get the title commensurate with the job….
References
Day of the Non-Commissioned Officer. (2009, June 9). State of Alaska, Governor. Retrieved June 19, 2009 from: http://www.gov.state.ak.us/proclamations.php?id=1918
Palin, S.L.H. (2009, June 17). “Headed to Ft. Rich” [Twitter Announcement]. AKGovSarahPalin, Twitter. Retrieved June 19, 2009 from: http://twitter.com/AKGovSarahPalin/status/2225685092
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