Georgia’s Woodmen of the World
Support Families of Deployed National Guard Soldiers

A.T. Wilkes (right) representing the Georgia Chapter of the Woodmen of the World, presents a check for $3,000 to the Georgia National Guard’s 48th Infantry Brigade Family Support Group. Accepting the check is Brig. Gen. Stewart Rodeheaver (left) commander. Also on hand for the presentation was Maj. Gen. David Poythress, Georgia’s Adjutant General.

With nearly 4,000 Georgia Army National Guard members engaged in the final phases of training for a year-long deployment to Iraq, the Georgia Chapter of the Woodmen of the World are helping those left behind.

The Woodmen of the World have collected more than $3,000 for the 48th Infantry Brigade Family Support Group, and more is on the way.

The organization presented the check to Brigadier General Stewart Rodeheaver, commander of the Guard’s 48th Brigade at the Woodmen meeting on Jekyll Island, March 19.

Making the check presentation was A.T. Wilkes, former president of the Georgia Chapter, who was also awarded the Georgia Commendation Medal by Major General David B. Poythress, Georgia’s Adjutant General. Wilkes was presented the medal for his many years of support of National Guard members and their families.

Wilkes told the audience that the $3,000 check was "only the tip of the iceberg" and expected more donations to follow this initial effort.

During the event, the Woodmen of the World also presented Poythress the W. Patrick Donlin Award, marking only the third time in 15 years the honor has been bestowed.
The 48th Infantry Brigade Family Support Group provides support and assistance to families of National Guard soldiers who are called to active duty. Wilkes stressed that unlike many other charities, 100 percent of the donations will go to directly support National Guard members and families in need.

The 48th Brigade includes citizen-soldiers drilling in more than 30 hometown armories around the state of Georgia. The unit was called to duty in January and has been training at Fort Stewart in preparation for deployment to Iraq in mid-May.