WEBVTT

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(electronic whirring)

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- Greetings and happy holidays
to you and your families.

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I begin this month with great
news and I'm happy to announce

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that we were recently notified
that the federal government

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has extended title 32
502(F) orders for our troops

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on the front lines of
the fight against COVID.

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This is a welcome
development for our state

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and our service members
who have worked so hard,

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supporting Wisconsin
since the pandemic began.

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With this extension, we can
continue our testing mission

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and other COVID-19
pandemic support missions,

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uninterrupted in the coming months.

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2020 has been the year of the guard

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and you've been front and center.

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From leadership changes
to the countless missions

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you've all completed
both here and overseas,

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this year has been
unprecedented on so many levels.

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As we enter the holiday
season, I encourage all of you

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to step back and take
stock of all you have

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to be grateful for.

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My hope is that you can
relax, unwind for a few days,

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rest and recover from what's been a long

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and challenging year.

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I personally am looking
forward to immersing myself

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in some of my family's holiday traditions

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and spending some quality time
with my wife and children.

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I hope that you too, can
take some time to enjoy

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your own family's traditions
and celebrate this special time

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of year in a way that's
meaningful to you and your family.

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Your celebrations may
look a little different

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than in years past.

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Enjoy the holidays, but please be safe

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and follow the current
guidance about not gathering

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with too many people.

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I understand that after a tough year,

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we all want to gather and get
started on what will hopefully

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be a brighter 2021.

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But our state and nation
still need us to be ready.

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So please be responsible

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as you hold your holiday celebrations.

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COVID is still a very real threat.

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In fact, it's never been as
dangerous as it is right now.

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So keep your distance, wear a mask

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and avoid large gatherings.

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I know that this year
has put a lot of strain

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on your families and plenty
of hard work awaits us

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in 2021 as well.

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Please do your best to
show our appreciation

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for your families and loved
ones who have supported you

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throughout this trying year

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and throughout your
entire military careers.

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We simply couldn't do what we
do without their understanding

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and their love and their support.

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On a related note, I
know that the holidays

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can be a stressful and lonely time

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for some in air formations.

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Being told that we can't gather

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with loved ones doesn't help.

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Just remember that your military
family is here for you too.

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Don't hesitate to reach
out if you need help.

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If you're battling depression,
having thoughts of suicide,

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having problems with alcohol or finances,

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remember that we have an entire team,

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our service member support
division standing by

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to support you at all times.

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And you have battle buddies
and wingmen who are here

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to help you too.

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The military is a second
family and you are never alone.

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As I close this month,
I want to, once again,

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highlight another individual
who is doing the right thing

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when it comes to advancing our
sharp and Sapper principles.

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This month, I'd like to give a shout out

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to Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Bauer

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with the one 15 fighter wing.

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Our equal opportunity program

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nominated Lieutenant Colonel Bauer

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because he regularly seeks
out guidance and support

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from the EO teams and makes
equal opportunity for everyone,

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no matter their race, gender
or status a top priority.

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The caring and professional
attitude he displays

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as a leader helps build a culture

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that does not tolerate
discrimination, harassment

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or inappropriate conduct
in this organization.

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And my top priority is
ensuring that everyone

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in this organization is
treated with the respect

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and dignity they deserve.

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Thank you, Lieutenant Colonel
Bauer for being a champion

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of this cause.

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During the holidays, I like to
reflect on what I'm grateful

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for and next to my own
family, you are at the top

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of my list.

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Thank you for all you've done this year

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and what you continue to do.

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I hope you can enjoy this special season

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with those who mean the most to you.

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From my family to yours, happy holidays

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and happy new year, tag out.

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- Greetings to all the soldiers

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of the Wisconsin Army National Guard.

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I'm Brigadier General Joni Matthews,

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the deputy general for Army.

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- And I am command Sergeant
Major Rafael Conde,

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the senior enlisted advisor

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for the Wisconsin Army National Guard.

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- With December's arrival,

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we wanted to wish all of you
a very happy holiday season.

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- The holidays can be
especially stressful.

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Soldier caring is always
one of our touch points,

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but as we approach the holidays

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and conclude a challenging
and demanding year,

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it's never been more important.

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I urge you to check on your battle buddies

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and ensure they know their
Army family is here for them.

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We're all in this
together and the stressors

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and the realities of COVID-19
pandemic don't make things

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any easier this year.

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If you find yourself
struggling or just need to talk

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to someone, don't hesitate to reach out.

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We're all one team and
we all have your back.

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- Thank you, professor major.

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Indeed, we are all one family.

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And as our ethos states, we
will never leave anyone behind.

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We've asked a lot of you this year.

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It's been a challenge,
but you've all served

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so admirably in 2020.

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I know you've been asked
to sacrifice a lot.

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And while it's been a
difficult year in so many ways,

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our communities have never needed us more.

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We chose to wear this uniform
so we could serve our country,

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so we could serve our state

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and so we could serve our communities.

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We all wanted to make a
difference and we all wanted

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to serve our fellow
citizens in times of need.

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And we can definitely say
we've done just that in 2020.

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Your leadership team and the
entire state of Wisconsin

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are so very proud of all of you.

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But as the calendar flips to
2021, more work lies ahead.

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I want each and every one
of you to please take a knee

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this holiday season.

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Rest, recuperate, recharge
and seek a helping hand

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if you need it.

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Our state and our nation
will continue to ask

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for our assistance and why?

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Because we have a proven track record

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that we are always ready
and we're always there.

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- In addition to the many
missions we've conducted here

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at home, we continue to serve our troops

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and through harms way overseas.

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This Christmas, we'll still have soldiers

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from that one Gulf company,
second of the 104th aviation out

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of westbound deployed overseas.

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We wish all of you a very Merry Christmas

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and a happy new year.

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We're thinking of you each and every day

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and praying for your safe return home.

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Keep up the great work and
continue to make us proud.

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But we're very grateful
to report in recent weeks,

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truths from both the 924th
engineer facilities attachment

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and the 1967th contracting
team have returned

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from overseas deployments
to the middle East

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and the horn of Africa.

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Welcome home to all of you.

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- We're so thrilled that
you returned in time

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to spend the holidays with your families.

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And as you reintegrate back
into your lives at home

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or civilian employment,
please take the time

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to say thank you to your spouses.

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Thank you to your children.

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Thank you to your parents.

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Thank you to your employers

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who sacrificed right alongside
you during your deployment.

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Congratulations on a job
well done and welcome home.

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To the entire Wisconsin
Army National Guard family,

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we want to wish you a
happy holiday season,

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Merry Christmas and a very happy new year.

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We are so blessed and honored
to serve alongside you.

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Thank you for your continued service

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to Wisconsin and our nation.