North Dakota
Senator Cramer Shares Appreciation for Military Veterans at North Dakota American Legion Conference
BISMARCK – During the American Legion Annual Department Winter Conference on Friday, U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) expressed his appreciation for their tireless advocacy and highlighted some of his recent legislative efforts pertaining to veterans’ affairs. Additionally, he reiterated the need to recruit more servicemembers and stand up to our adversaries by projecting strength, not weakness.
“The world is on fire and hungry for American leadership, and trying to balance those things is no small matter. If we project weakness, our adversaries see vulnerability. If we project strength, they settle down. From Iran to Russia, we have a President projecting weakness, and the world is reacting to it. Earlier this week, I was able to visit with Garrett Illerbrunn’s family at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. His service and the strength of his family are the epitome of the best of North Dakota and the nation. We need to attract more people into the service like Garrett and his wife Lorna. I hope no child from North Dakota or the United States, has to go to war again, but if we had to go to war again, I hope we have a whole bunch of people ready to do it. One of the reasons I believe we are struggling to recruit more people is they don’t know the cost of freedom, nor do they understand the glory of fighting for our freedom, or the camaraderie or the benefits of having brothers and sisters in arms. That is what the Legion does so well, if not better than anybody. You foster a legacy of service and do an incredible job changing policies to make sure promises are kept for those who serve.”
Senator Cramer concluded his speech by reciting the fourth verse of the Star-Spangled Banner.
“Oh, thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand. Between their loved home and the war’s desolation. Blest with victory and peace, may the Heaven rescued land praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation. Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just, and this be our motto: “In God is our trust;” and the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave. O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave. Thank you for all you do, and God bless.”
As a member of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee, Senator Cramer has co-led and supported various pieces of legislation to provide veterans access to co-pay free mental health care services and facilitate expanded peer support networks and health resources for veterans facing mental health challenges. He has also worked to expand health care coverage for veterans battling toxic exposure and increase coverage of innovative therapies for veterans battling post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury.
Specific pieces of legislation and efforts Senator Cramer led to support our nation’s veterans and fund efforts by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), include:
- The Combat Veterans Pre-Enrollment Act of 2023, which would allow combat veterans to pre-enroll in a health care benefits program six months prior to their discharge.
- The Safeguarding VA Dependent Education Benefits Act of 2023, which would protect the GI educational benefits of a spouse or dependent whose benefits would be terminated as a result of a servicemember being convicted or dishonorably discharged for domestic or sexual assault.
- The TAP Promotion Act, which would allow accredited members of Veterans Service Organizations to participate in the Transition Assistance Program (TAP) classes to help servicemembers file Benefits Delivery at Discharge claims.
- The REMOVE Copays Act, legislation allowing veterans to attain copay-free mental health and substance abuse care through VA and community providers for their first three outpatients visits each year.
Submitted Photo
U.S. soldiers with the Nebraska and North Dakota National Guards, assigned to Joint Task Force-District of Columbia in support of the DC Safe and Beautiful mission, pose for a group photo at a hotel in Alexandria, Virginia, April 28. N.D. National Guard 2nd Lt. Caleb Hill, front row, far left, served as the officer in charge of the mission when soldiers assigned to JTF-DC responded to the shooting incident at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner April 25. About 2,500 National Guard members are supporting the DC Safe and Beautiful mission, providing critical assistance to the Metropolitan Police Department to help ensure the safety of residents, commuters and visitors throughout the District. U.S. Army National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Thomas Norris.
WASHINGTON – U.S. soldiers with the North Dakota, Arkansas and Nebraska Army National Guard, assigned to Joint Task Force-District of Columbia in support of the DC Safe and Beautiful mission, responded to a shooting incident at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner (WHCAD) at the Washington Hilton in Northwest Washington April 25.
The Guardsmen were at the WHCAD at the request of the U.S. Secret Service (USSS) as an additional patrol unit created specifically for the event, which celebrates the contribution of news organizations and independent journalists alike who provide notable coverage relating to the presidential administration.
“Our mission was to assist the U.S. Secret Service with crowd control,” said Capt. Kevin Peatrowsky, an operations officer with the Nebraska National Guard (NENG) assigned to JTF-DC.
As the Guardsmen were monitoring their area of operations, they saw USSS agents sprint toward the hotel entrance.
“They were running full speed with their weapons drawn,” said Sgt. 1st. Class Allen Haney, a team member with the Arkansas National Guard. “We immediately followed suit.”
Staff Sgt. Kirsten Confer, a NENG combat medic and battle captain, recalled her response to the incident: “We fell back on our basic training. You run toward danger and move in a way that makes sense for the situation.”
According to Confer, the Guardsmen entered the hotel and immediately began securing the scene and ensured that the guests evacuated safely. At the direction of a federal agent, Confer began a rapid trauma assessment on the suspect which resulted in finding knives and ammunition on the shooter. Simultaneously, the Arkansas soldiers moved outside to provide crowd control at a pedestrian barricade outside the hotel.
“From there, we assisted wherever we could,” said 2nd Lt. Caleb Hill, a National Guardsman from North Dakota who served as the officer in charge for the mission. “We were initially helping with crowd control. After that, we realized that the USSS had begun rerouting everyone in the hotel, so we moved to the doors. We were controlling entry into the venue, so we had moved a couple more people outside, so we had five inside, eight outside.” Both Arkansas and Nebraska worked well alongside one another and, alongside the federal agencies. Hill also noted that relying on his soldiers allowed him to move to different teams, which helped allow him to plan and coordinate with different agencies.
According to 1st Lt. Jonathan Goins, a platoon leader with the Arkansas National Guard, Arkansas soldiers also helped establish a security perimeter for the staging of the presidential motorcade. Later, the team assisted federal agencies and MPD with crowd control, which helped clear the way for the president and administration officials, he said.
“Guardsmen on this mission represent the very best of the nation,” said U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Leland Blanchard II, the interim commanding general of the District of Columbia National Guard. “The world got a brief glimpse, but I see them each day serving and doing amazing things across the District.”
FARGO, N.D. (KELO) — The Sioux Falls Stampede staved off elimination with a 2-1 overtime win over the Fargo Force in game four of the USHL Western Conference Finals Saturday night.
Thomas Zocco scored the game-winner 12 minutes into the extra period. Arseni Marchenko put Fargo on the board first in the first period. Noah Mannausau tied the game for the Herd in the second period.
Sioux Falls outshot Fargo 53-49, including 9-5 in overtime. Linards Feldbergs made 48 saves.
Three of the four games of the series have gone to overtime. The winner-take-all game five is Tuesday at the Premier Center.
New ballot measure guide to be mailed to North Dakota voters ahead of election
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