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“Your country called upon
you, you answered the call, and served with honor and distinction,” Gov. Ryan
said. “On behalf of the people of Illinois I thank you for serving, but we are
also thankful you are home, safe and sound.”
The Illinois National
Guard mobilized more than 1,300 soldiers for Task Force Santa Fe, the largest
call-up of Illinois National Guard personnel since the Korean War.
Approximately 450
soldiers were among the first to arrive in Illinois today; the remaining 900
soldiers will be returning in separate elements, with all soldiers scheduled to
be home by early September.
"The soldiers of the
Illinois Army National Guard did what they always do when called on — they
answered the call to duty. They knew their mission, and they set and achieved a
superior standard in their performance of duty,” said Maj. Gen. David Harris,
adjutant general of the Illinois National Guard. “They gave personal sacrifice
to answer the call, and we are glad to have them home."
The soldiers returning
home today are from several units of the Illinois National Guard including:
• About 100
soldiers from Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 178th
Infantry based in Chicago at General Jones Armory.
• More than
100 soldiers from Company B, 1st Battalion, 178th Infantry based in Elgin.
• About 150
soldiers of Company A, 2nd Battalion, 130th Infantry based in Mattoon.
• More than
100 soldiers of Company B, 2nd Battalion, 130th infantry based in Effingham.
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article]
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During the
welcome-home ceremony Wednesday Gov. Ryan also signed
House Bill 4457, which provides re-employment rights for
Illinois National Guard personnel called to state active duty. This
legislation mirrors the job rights and reinstatement privileges
outlined in the federal Uniformed Services Employment and
Reemployment Rights Act for active-duty soldiers.
“This law
will help you and the men and women who follow in your footsteps,”
Gov. Ryan said. “It gives you the same rights of re-employment when
you are called to active duty that you have when you are called to
federal active duty.”
Under House
Bill 4457 members of the National Guard called to state active duty
have the right to be re-employed at the position he or she left,
with the same status, seniority and wage increases that were earned
during the member’s time of state active duty by people in similar
positions. It also provides for rights in connection with other
employee benefits, such as health insurance, and provides for stays
of civil proceedings, rights in connection with attendance and the
payment of tuition to any state university or community college.
[Illinois
Government News Network
press release]
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