Maj. Gen. Nesbitt (rights) greets convention goers during formal banquet
Georgia Association celebrates 60 years; hears Nesbitt, Kingston

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Jekyll Island, GA – Georgia’s National Guard Association of Georgia (NGAGA) convened at Jekyll Island June 5-8 for its 60th annual conference to discuss business and review the year’s achievements. Many influential speakers were present to address the collection of Guardsmen.

Saturday June 7, in his first convention as The Adjutant General, Maj. Gen. William T. Nesbitt spoke about the benefits of moving the joint headquarters to Naval Air Station Atlanta (NAS), the remarkable success of the past year’s recruiting, expanding the HERO Bill, and other programs in which NGAGA is involved.

Jack Kingston, U.S. Representative from Georgia’s 1st District hit on a wide variety of topics, ranging from the war in Iraq, to Congressional spending. He emphasized the importance of the military’s efforts in Iraq saying, “We’ve just had the third straight week of the lowest level of security issues in Iraq (since the beginning of the war in 2003). Iraq’s electricity access is at an all-time high (in the Nation’s history). There are 12 million people with cell phone access and over 260 thousand people with net access, up from 5,000 previously.”

The proceedings of the annual conference kicked off Thursday, June 5, with a joint commander’s conference. Friday morning started with a literal bang via the shotgun start of the 21st Annual Ronnie Griffin Memorial Golf Tournament held at Jekyll Island’s newest and longest course, Pine Lakes. The team of John Smiley, James Dennis, Marvin Thomas, and Kelly Spivey took home the tournament trophy with a score of 56.

The rest of the day was filled with other recreational activities and fun events for the whole family, including a NASCAR display and antique car show, a silent auction, and children’s programs.

Prince Pele’ and the Polynesian Review offered the early evening amusement with music, dancing, singing and a Samoan sword fire dancer. The Grapevine continued the nighttime festivities with musical delights in the Pit Stop Hospitality Room.

After the business meeting on Saturday, the attendees gathered at a formal banquet, which featured a USO-style show by The Island Players, and the hand off of the NGAGA presidency to Lt. Col. Murray Hansen from Col. Stephen Joyce, and the presentation of several other awards and recognitions. The many events of this conference all aimed at one purpose, best encapsulated by the event’s theme: “Embracing the Past – Racing to the Future!”


Congressman Jack Kingston

Maj. Gen Nesbitt address convention

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