10.24.12

Delegation Encourages North Dakotans To Honor Service Members, Families on Day of the Deployed

Hoeven-Introduced Resolution Marks Oct. 26 as Day of the Deployed

BISMARCK, N.D. – Senators John Hoeven and Kent Conrad and Congressman Rick Berg today encouraged North Dakotans to honor the nation’s deployed service members and their families with Day of the Deployed activities and ceremonies on Oct. 26.

The U.S. Senate recently passed a Hoeven-introduced resolution to honor the nation’s deployed service members and designate Oct. 26, 2012 as the Day of the Deployed. The resolution calls on Americans to reflect on the sacrifices of the nation’s deployed service members and their families, and encourages ceremonies and activities to be held on Oct. 26 in their honor.

Hoeven and Berg will mark the 7th Annual State and 2nd Annual National Day of the Deployed at a ceremony on Friday, Oct. 26 at 9:00 a.m. at Bismarck State College’s National Energy Center of Excellence. The ceremony will be broadcast via a live feed across the United States as well as to North Dakota National Guardsmen deployed to Afghanistan.

“We are grateful for the service of our military personnel and their families and we cannot do enough to show our appreciation for the extraordinary work they do each day on behalf of our country,” said Hoeven. “While these men and women deserve our thanks every day, it is important that we set aside Oct. 26 as the Day of Deployed, and formally offer our thanks and praise for their unwavering commitment to defend the country we love.”

“North Dakotans have a long and storied tradition of exceptional military service. The brave men and women protecting us abroad today deserve nothing less than our full support. This October 26, we make a special point to acknowledge those who sacrifice daily for the rest of us, and pledge our full support for the missions they carry out in defense of our great nation,” said Conrad, a cosponsor of the Senate resolution.

“The Day of the Deployed is a chance for us to reflect on the sacrifice and commitment of our military personnel and formally offer our thanks to these brave men and women. While we can never fully appreciate the sacrifice of our soldiers and their families, we must do all that we can to honor their service to our country,” said Berg.

Currently, more than 2.5 million people serve as members of the U.S. Armed Forces, including those in the active guard and reserve components, with thousands of members deployed each year to 150 countries around the world.

As Governor of North Dakota, Hoeven launched the first Day of the Deployed on Oct. 26, 2006, in support of nonprofit organizations that aid deployed American military personnel and their families. Hoeven continued to spearhead the effort in the Senate, sponsoring the first Senate resolution calling for a national Day of the Deployed last year. That resolution also passed unanimously by the Senate.