CONGRESS
HEADQUARTERS MONDAY, MARCH 20, 2006 AT 1PM AT 3520 GROVE AVE., LORAIN, OH (AT
RT.57 JUST NORTH OF 1-90).
NORBERT DENNERLL, DEMOCRAT CANDIDATE FOR U.S. CONGRESS, 13TH DISTRICT, AND
FORMER INFANTRY CAPTAIN IN THE U.S. MARINE CORPS DURING THE KOREAN CONFLICT AND
THEN A COMMANDING OFFICER IN THE OHIO NATIONAL GUARD TODAY STATED WE MUST HAVE
A CHANGE IN THE OHIO NATIONAL GUARD FROM A FORCE THAT IS SENT OVERSEAS TO A
NATIONAL HOME SECURITY UNIT.
DENNERLL STATED THERE IA A NEW NEED BECAUSE OF THE WAR IN IRAQ, AND THE NEED TO
PROTECT THE COUNTRY FROM WITHIN TO CHANGE THE MISSION OF THE ARMY NATIONAL
GUARD.
THE GUARD IS ALWAYS PREPARED TO ASSIST THE PUBLIC DURING CIVIL EMERGENCIES. AT
HOME, THEY HELP LOCAL COMMUNITIES WITHST AND NATURAL DISASTERS SUCH AS FLOODS,
FIRES, EARTHQUAKES AND HURRICANES. YOU CAN FIND LOCAL GUARD UNITS GUARDING KEY
INFRASTRUCTURES ELEMENTS SUCH AS POWER PLANTS, BRIDGES AND AIRPORTS.
THEY ARE AVAILABLE AT A MOMENT'S NOTICE, DELIVERING FOOD AND CLOTHING, PROVIDING
MEDICAL AID, PROTECTING HOMES AND PROPERTY, AND CARING FOR THE CITIZENS OF OUR
COMMUNITIES.
HOWEVER, NOT JUST DISASTERS BRING OUT THE BEST IN GUARD MEMBERS. THE GUARD
ACTIVELY PARTICIPATES IN LOCAL COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS THAT ASSIST
NEIGHBORHOODS TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE. THEY ARE ALSO INVOLVED IN SCHOOL
AND COMMUNITY PROGRAMS, THEY SERVE AS ROLE MODELS FOR CHILDREN.
WITH THE SERIOUS FLOODS IN NEW ORLEANS - FIRES IN THE WEST - HURRICANES AND OTHER
DISASTERS, WE NEED A READY FORCE HERE AT HOME. WE DON'T NEED 40% OF THE FIGHTING
FORCE OF THE WAR IN IRAQ BEING THE NATIONAL GUARD.
THE NATIONAL GUARD FORCE HAS DONE A GREAT JOB IN IRAQ WITH HONOR AND DIGNITY, BUT
WE MUST INCREASE THE REGULAR FORCES OF THE ARMY, AIR FORCE, U.S. MARINES AND NAVY
WITH THE MERCHANT MARINES AND ALLOW THE NATIONAL GUARD AND THE COAST GUARD TO
PROTECT THE BORDERS OF OUR COUNTRY ALONG WITH THE DISASTER FROM WITHIN.
IT IS UNDERSTANDABLE THAT WHEN A DISASTER HITS, THE MEN IN THE SAFETY FORCES
WORRY ABOUT THEIR FAMILIES. WE MUST HAVE MEN AND WOMEN THAT KNOW THEIR FAMILIES
ARE SAFE WHO CAN GO TO THE FIELD OF ACTION TO TAKE CARE OF EXISTING PROBLEMS IN
OTHER AREAS.
WE HAVE A PEACE CORPS THAT SERVES A PURPOSE WITHOUT FOREIGN COMBAT. WE COULD
HAVE A NATIONAL GUARD WHO COULD PROMOTE ACTIVE ARMS DUTY, BUT THE NEW GUARD
WOULD DO DUTY ONLY WITHIN THE UNITED STATES, THEREFORE MORE QUALIFIED
INDIVIDUALS WOULD FEEL SAFE BOTH THEIR COUNTRY AND FAMILY.
OUR ARMED SERVICES THEN WOULD HAVE THE FULL RESPONSIBILITY FOR ARMED WARFARE IN
FOREIGN AREAS. THE NEW RESPONSIBILITY WOULD MAKE OUR COUNTRY SAFER INSIDE AND
OUT.
