Baker is receiving award from Guard

BILL O’BOYLE

boboyle@timesleader.com

State Sen. will receive the Patrick Henry Award this weekend, recognizing her support of the National Guard and those who serve.

Adjutant Gen. Jessica Wright, who heads the Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs and the Pennsylvania National Guard, nominated Baker for the award.

“Senator Baker has been tireless in her support of our 19,000 Air and members,” Wright said. “We are delighted that NGAUS (National Guard Association of the United States) has selected her for the Patrick Henry Award. Her service as the chair for the Senate Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee has made a positive impact on the lives of our veterans, service members and their families.”

Created in 1989, the Patrick Henry Award – the civilian counterpart to the NGAUS Distinguished Service Medal – is designed to provide recognition to local officials and civic leaders, “who in a position of great responsibility distinguished themselves with outstanding and exceptional service to the Armed Forces of the United States, the National Guard or NGAUS.”

Baker said when she ran for office she didn’t imagine that veterans’ issues and military preparedness matters would be chief concentrations so early on.

“For the members of the Guard, and for all those who serve in some branch of our armed forces, the call to duty is their priority,” Baker said. “For those of us holding elected office, providing services and fulfilling our obligations should not be buried down the list of political priorities. These are fundamental responsibilities we must not lose sight of or set aside. Our obligations do not come with expiration dates or economic exceptions for troubled times.”

Baker will receive the award at the 132nd NGAUS General Conference & Exhibition, being held this weekend in Austin, Texas. She will receive the award today and she said she will attend the conference at no cost to taxpayers.

 More than 4,000 National Guard members will convene along with defense officials, industry representatives and lawmakers to determine crucial Guard issues and plot NGAUS’ legislative priorities for the following year.

Baker said she considers it a continuing honor to work with the leaders and members of the National Guard. She said she has found that the Guard is well-led, well-trained, and well-prepared for the challenges of defending freedom and responding to catastrophe.

“From my vantage point, the commitment and the capacity of the National Guard are quite impressive,” Baker said. “We should never underestimate the quality of those who volunteer, all that it takes to be ready, or the risks and hazards they face when deployed. Commentators talk about what is called political courage, but that is a pale imitation of the reality of combat zone courage.”