Correct Success: VP Pence visits Fort Drum

Second Woman Karen Pence and Vice President Michael Pence go to Fort Drum Sunday afternoon.
(Supplied photograph — Sydney Schaefer, Watertown Each day Occasions)

FORT DRUM — Vice President Michael Pence selected Fort Drum for his remaining public look earlier than leaving workplace Wednesday, his spouse advised a socially distanced crowd assembled on the Wheeler-Sack Military Airfield late Sunday afternoon.

Second Woman Karen Pence obtained emotional as she famous this may be her and her husband’s final official public occasion in workplace.

“It’s such an honor to be right here with you,” she stated, choking again tears.

The vice chairman and second woman each spoke to members of the Military’s 10th Mountain Division, assembled in a hangar, to precise their gratitude and the thanks of the Trump administration for the service of Fort Drum’s troops in Iraq and Afghanistan.

“America is happy with the 10th Mountain,” Vice President Pence stated. “Thanks to your service. To the first Brigade Fight group, welcome dwelling.”

Troopers take heed to Vice President Michael Pence on Sunday afternoon at Fort Drum.
(Supplied photograph — Sydney Schaefer, Watertown Each day Occasions)

Fort Drum troopers have been returning dwelling because the drawdown of troop continues. Most not too long ago, on Christmas Eve, about 200 troopers had been reunited with their households.

Vice President Pence spoke of his son and son-in-law’s service, and of his father’s time in Military fight in Korea, including that by not serving within the army himself, it gave him a unique perspective. He referred to as himself a “grateful citizen.”

“The American individuals are extra grateful to your service than you’ll ever hear,” Vice President Pence stated. “You’re the better of us. We’re grateful not solely to those that put on the uniform, however we’re grateful for these of you who serve alongside.”

He referred to as on all in attendance to face and thank their households.

Regardless of a winter storm warning for the realm, circumstances had been clear as Air Power Two arrived at Wheeler-Sack Military Airfield at about 4:20 p.m. Sunday afternoon.

Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-Schuylerville, speaks previous to introducing Vice President Michael Pence at Wheeler-Sack Military Airfield at Fort Drum on Sunday afternoon.
(Supplied photograph — Sydney Schaefer, Watertown Each day Occasions)

Contained in the airfield hangar, about 250 troopers, some with their households, representing all of the models of the 10th Mountain Division, sat socially distanced on folding white chairs.

Together with Brig. Gen. Brett Funck, Mrs. Pence and Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-Schuylerville, the vice chairman thanked the members of the 10th Mountain Division for his or her service as probably the most deployed division within the Military through the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Vice President Pence stated that because the terrorist assaults on Sept. 11, 2001, there have been a mixed 46 deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan from Fort Drum. The 10th Mountain Division has misplaced greater than 325 troopers in fight.

For the reason that warfare in Afghanistan started shortly after the 2001 terrorist assaults, then-Vice President Richard “Dick” Cheney, who served underneath President George W. Bush, and then-Vice President Joseph Biden Jr., who served underneath President Barack Obama, have traveled to Fort Drum to honor troops. Vice President Pence has beforehand visited troops right here, becoming a member of President Donald Trump in August 2018.

The vice chairman spoke about his recollections of 9-11, the terrorist assault that launched the battle in Iraq that so many 10th Mountain troopers have been deployed to. He recalled how, as he left his dwelling the day after it was introduced that American troopers could be despatched to Iraq, his daughter requested him if he must deploy as effectively.

Vice President Michael Pence speaks to 10th Mountain Division troopers at Wheeler-Sack Military Airfield at Fort Drum on Sunday afternoon.
(Supplied photograph — Sydney Schaefer, Watertown Each day Occasions)

“A technology later, you all have stepped ahead and took the struggle to our enemies,” he stated.

Now, within the 20th yr after the terrorist assault, Vice President Pence stated the efforts of the 10th Mountain Division have led to a extra peaceable Center East. He stated there has not been a single American fight casualty in Afghanistan since February of final yr.

“Our troops have been coming dwelling,” he stated. “Many individuals marvel all their lives if they’ve made a distinction, however you’ll by no means have that drawback.”

Vice President Pence stated the Trump administration has rebuilt America’s defenses, whereas working with members of Congress in each events to restore a withering pressure.

The vice chairman detailed how, when he and Trump took workplace, the army hadn’t seen a increase in additional than 10 years, gear and funding in infrastructure was extremely low, and North Atlantic Treaty Group members had been devoting comparatively little to the safety of the treaty group.

Now, he stated, with the fiscal yr 2021 Nationwide Protection Authorization Act, troopers are seeing the very best pay improve in a decade, army readiness is seeing mandatory funding and NATO allies have elevated spending on the group by $130 billion.

“I’m proud to report with only a few days left in our administration, our administration is the primary administration in a long time that didn’t get America concerned in a brand new warfare,” he stated. “That’s peace by way of energy.”

Giving credit score to Stefanik, who’s on the Home Armed Providers Committee, he stated she advocated at each flip for Fort Drum.

“Now we have rebuilt our army,” he stated. “Now we have restored our arsenal.”

The vice chairman stated serving as vice chairman has been the best honor of his life.

He supplied prayers from hundreds of thousands of Individuals and the energy and pleasure of the nation as troopers perform their duties.

“You don’t bear that burden alone,” he stated.

The vice chairman and his spouse each careworn how they perceive the burden army households bear when their family members go away to warfare.

Talking earlier than the vice chairman, the second woman remarked how during the last 4 years she selected to champion and advocate for army spouses whereas in workplace. Since 2018, Mrs. Pence has led an consciousness marketing campaign to acknowledge the distinctive employment and profession challenges that army spouses face. She additionally began TEAMS, a workforce schooling program targeted on army spouses.

Mrs. Pence stated, because the mom of an Military pilot and the mother-in-law of one other pilot, she understands the emotional toll army households face.

“We’re studying much more, now that our children are within the army, what an enormous sacrifice it’s,” she stated. It’s an enormous sacrifice for our service members, but it surely’s additionally an enormous sacrifice to your spouses and your youngsters. We all know that they serve, too.”

Every service member, upon leaving the hangar, was given a small blue field with a bracelet to provide to the troopers’ partner, with the second woman’s signature, a star and a flag.

Chief Warrant Officer Colin Rawlings stated he was honored the vice chairman selected Fort Drum because the venue the place he would ship his remaining official speech from.

“I believe it speaks volumes about him because the vice chairman,” he stated. “I hate to say, however he may have simply ‘forgotten’ about it and simply stated his schedule doesn’t allow him to come back, and but he nonetheless took trip of his schedule and got here out.”

After his speech, the vice chairman beckoned for the troopers in attendance to come back up and communicate with him over the barrier that divided his podium from the seating space. For almost 15 minutes, the vice chairman spoke with 10th Mountain Division troopers and their households, smiling and laughing as he moved down the road.

The vice chairman left the hangar at about 5:45 p.m., and boarded Air Power Two en route dwelling to Washington, D.C., for his remaining two days in workplace.

President-elect Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala D. Harris shall be inaugurated Wednesday.

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