Governor, other officials show uniform appreciation for military members

The Touchstone Energy tent was overflowing with servicemen and women of all ages in celebration of Homegrown Heroes Day at the Missouri State Fair.

A B-2 fly-over by the Spirit of America kicked off the military appreciation ceremony. Speakers included Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon, U.S. Rep. Ike Skelton, Lt. Gen. Robert Caslen, Maj. Gen. David Quantock, Brig. Gen. Robert Wheeler, Brig. Gen. Stephen Danner and Retired Rear Adm. Lee Metcalf.

Nixon stressed the importance of having an appreciation day for servicemen and women at the fair.

“It gives us the chance in some small measure to give recognition to the men and women of Missouri who have stepped forward to serve their country both in times of peace and times of conflict,” he said.

He shared how he witnessed up close what the military is accomplishing when he recently visited Iraq, Kuwait, Afghanistan and Germany with four other governors.

“There was nothing more vital for me on the trip than the opportunity to sit down in person with our men and women in uniform and especially those from the great Show-Me State,” he said.

He also spoke about new legislation and programs recently implemented in Missouri to help current servicemen and retired veterans.

The Show-Me Heroes program now has 763 employers who have taken a pledge to consider hiring veterans who have returned from deployments.

For retired veterans, Nixon said, “I signed a law last year to reduce and then eliminate entirely over the next few years state taxes on military retirement income in the state of Missouri.”

The reduction began in January and should be completed by 2016.

Skelton expressed his gratitude to all who wear the uniform and to those who wore it.  

“We thank you so much for your service and for your dedication,” he said.

He predicted that the young people serving today will be the next Greatest Generation. He believes they will be leaders in their communities because they understand the importance of duty, patriotism and teamwork.

Maj. Gen. David Quantock, commanding general of the Maneuver Support Center of Excellence at Fort Leonard Wood, recognized two servicemen for their leadership.

Sgt. 1st Class Adam McQuiston, of Minnesota, was named the 2010 Fort Leonard Wood Non-Commissioned Officer of the Year. He is 28 and is an instructor for the military police. He served two deployments in Iraq and received the Bronze Star. He plans to attend drill sergeant school soon.

Marine Cpl. Eric Schmeling, 20, of Riverhead, N.Y., was the 2010 junior service member of the year. He has been in the Marine Corps for two years.

Brig. Gen. Wheeler from Whiteman Air Force Base recognized Lt. Col. Kenneth Carr and Staff Sgt. Morgan Quijano.

Lt. Col. Carr represented the chaplains who won the Air Combat Command Award. Staff Sgt. Quijano received the 2010 Lance P. Sijan United States Air Force Leadership Award.   

Brig. Gen. Danner, adjutant general of the Missouri National Guard, introduced Staff Sgt. Jennifer Dipley and Staff Sgt. Richard Robison. They were part of a joint team charged with rebuilding the agriculture business infrastructure in Afghanistan. They both received the Bronze Star for their role in the team’s mission.

The ceremony ended with the signing of the Army Community Covenant. The program is designed to foster support for service members and their families in a particular community. More than 450 community covenants have been signed at ceremonies across the country attended by thousands of Americans, according to the Army Community Covenant website.