State Defense Force Honors Legislators
At Annual Dining Out

Captain Clark Howard Presents Plaque of Appreciation to US Congressman Lynn Westmoreland at the GSDF Dining Out on February 26, 2005

Georgia State Defense Force honored lawmakers, and supporters in February at a formal officers' dining out.

The honorees at the event included U.S. Representative Lynn Westmoreland, State Senator John Douglas, and State Representative Steve Davis. Rep. Westmoreland commended the members of the Georgia State Defense Force for their service to fellow Georgians, and challenged the state legislature to increase the GSDF’s funding, which presently totals only $5,000 annually. “We need to ensure that the State Defense Force has the ability to protect us,” Westmoreland said while speaking at the event. The congressman recalled his surprise when he first learned last year that the members of the GSDF “actually pay for their own uniforms, equipment and travel.”

Rep. Westmoreland also expressed his support for a bill pending in the U.S. House, the State Defense Force Improvement Act of 2003, which is designed to improve the readiness of state defense forces and to increase military coordination for homeland security between the states and the Department of Defense. “I look forward to becoming a co-sponsor of HR 2797,” Westmoreland said. The bill, first introduced by Rep. Joe Wilson of South Carolina, has been in House Committee on Armed Services since July of 2003.

State Senator John Douglas, Chairman of the Senate Veterans and Military Affairs Committee, echoed Westmoreland’s praise of the State Defense Force. “On behalf of the Governor of Georgia and the State Senate we express our appreciation for the sacrifices you make,” Sen. Douglas said. “We’ve got the message that the GSDF needs more budget resources,” Douglas continued, noting that the support role of the GSDF in protecting the state will significantly increase when Georgia’s 48th Infantry Brigade – the single largest National Guard unit in the state – deploys to Iraq in May for a 12 month tour of duty.

Consumer advocate and radio/TV personality Clark Howard, who has been a member of the Georgia State Defense Force since 2001, presented each of the legislators with engraved plaques of appreciation recognizing their continuing support of the GSDF, the Georgia National Guard, and the Georgia Department of Defense.

Brigadier General Ross, Commander of the 78th Troop Command, also spoke and commended the GSDF on their valuable contribution to the State of Georgia. He stated that Adjutant General David Poythress “supports the GSDF 110 percent" and said he planned to utilize the GSDF more in meeting the mission of the 3,000 members of the 78th Troop Command.