Governor Recognizes Army Reserve’s 100th Anniversary

AUGUSTA – Governor John E. Baldacci today recognized the 100th Anniversary of the U.S. Army Reserves. In a proclamation signing ceremony in the State House, the Governor welcomed Capt. Brian White, Commanding Officer of the 619th Transportation Company based in Auburn, Maine, and other members of the Army Reserve and thanked them for their commitment to preserving the safety of Maine citizens and the nation.

“The 619th Transportation Company, and all our U.S. Army Reservists, serve this nation in remarkable ways,” said Governor Baldacci. “They put their lives on the line. This isn’t something any of us take lightly. We know that our Army Reservists are there to answer the call. They do amazing work, and we can never thank them enough for what they do day in and day out.”

The 619th Transportation Company served a year in Iraq, arriving back home in 2005. While in Iraq, the Company ran convoys of equipment and supplies in northern Iraq.

Governor Baldacci signed a proclamation recognizing April 23 as Army Reservist Day. The text of the proclamation follows:

WHEREAS, the United States Army Reserve is rooted in the tradition of the American Colonists who served, protected and defended this country; and

WHEREAS, in 1908, Congress established the Medical Reserve Corps to provide a reservoir of trained officers in times of war; and

WHEREAS, Army Reserve soldiers have since trained and served with excellence during many of the world’s most serious conflicts; and

WHEREAS, the role of the Army Reserve has changed over time, moving from a strategic reserve to an operation force that can support the Army during peacetime, contingencies and war; and

WHEREAS, though the Army Reserve makes up only 20 percent of the Army’s organized units, it provides about half of the Army’s combat support and one quarter of the Army’s mobilization base expansion capability while using only 5.3 percent of the Army’s budget; and

WHEREAS, as the United States Armed Forces face a constantly changing world theater, the Army Reserve has played a critical role in the Army’s transformation into a smaller, lighter, and quicker force; and

WHEREAS, with over one million soldiers available at any time, the Army Reserve continues to produce a highly skilled, flexible force that can provide the Army with the support needed to face the ever-changing demands of the 21st century,

NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOHN E. BALDACCI, Governor of the State of Maine, do hereby proclaim April 23, 2008 as

ARMY RESERVE DAY

throughout the State of Maine, and urge all citizens to recognize this observance.