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Statement issued by Sen. Richard Lugar, R-Ind., in honor of Veterans Day:
Today, Americans honor the service and sacrifice of those who have given of themselves in defense of our nation throughout history. We also recognize the remarkable dedication and skill of so many Hoosiers who continue to work each day to defend our nation both at home and abroad.
As we closely follow the activities of our Indiana National Guard soldiers, it is impressive to witness the depth and breadth of skills they possess and utilize in defending our country.
As a family farmer and member of the U.S. Senate Agriculture Committee, I have taken particular notice of the Indiana Guard’s Agribusiness Development Teams (ADT). After receiving agriculture and cultural training at Purdue University and intensive language training at Indiana University, members of the ADT deployed to Khost Province, Afghanistan.
These innovative programs utilize Hoosier expertise and ingenuity to assist Afghan farmers, improve productivity, and develop profitable crops other than poppy, which contributes to the trafficking of heroin.
During a visit to the Muscatatuck Urban Training Center in Butlerville, I was impressed with the facilities and operations in place there and at Camp Atterbury that ensure the safety and effectiveness of soldiers and civilians serving in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The Indiana National Guard has worked closely with the State of Indiana and the Department of Defense to develop these facilities as premier mobilization and training sites. In addition to training soldiers for combat in the varied settings they will encounter in Iraq and Afghanistan, these facilities serve as a resource for civilians from the Department of State and the U.S. Agency for International Development who are preparing for service abroad. By exposing soldiers and civilians to many of the sights, sounds, and cultures they will encounter, as well as through the simulation of many complex scenarios, this training provides a margin of safety that was not imaginable until recently.
In August I visited the dedicated workers at Naval Surface Warfare Center, Crane Division, and thanked them for their work to provide our warfighters with the tools they need to safely and effectively carry out their important missions. The talented technicians and engineers at Crane specialize in the Special Missions that have been critical in Iraq and Afghanistan, Strategic Missions in defense of our homeland and allies, and Electronic Warfare and Information Operations that give our warfighters the advantage on the battlefield. In addition to this life-saving work, the Department of Defense has singled out Crane for innovation in value engineering to ensure that new capabilities are provided while saving American taxpayers millions of dollars each year.
Indiana’s unique military installations provide a wide variety of training and research for our men and women in uniform and those who support their efforts. These facilities have ably prepared so many veterans in the past and will continue to do so with the latest technology and resources available.
On this Veterans Day, please join me in honoring those who have served, those currently serving, and those who endeavor each day to prepare and retrain our warfighters for the future. My prayers are for their safety and for the strength of their families and friends.
