Capital Journal
When the 15 soldiers of the South Dakota Army National Guard’s 200th Bridge Training Team board a plane headed for the middle east later this year, they’ll do so with the knowledge that their state cares about them.
That was the message recited early and often Saturday during the team’s activation ceremony held at the T.F. Riggs High School theater. The event included remarks from a host of dignitaries including a Governor, a Senator, A U.S. Representative and a mayor. Not to mention a couple of Army officers.
The 200th Bridgie Training Team consists of 15 soldiers from the South Dakota National Guard’s 200th Engineer Company, which is stationed in Pierre, Chamberlain and Mobridge.
“Here in South Dakota guard units understand what it takes to be the best,” Daugaard said.
Former South Dakota Governor and now U.S. Senator Mike Rounds also spoke during Saturday’s ceremony. He recounted the story of one of the first deployment ceremonies he participated in as Governor. That ceremony also was for members of the 200th Engineer Co. and they were heading for Iraq to participate in Operation Iraqi Freedom.
“I realized some of the soldiers could have been playing on my kids’ nintendo a few weeks earlier,” Rounds said.
That experience, he said, served to drive home just how big an impact a National Guard deployment can have on a community.
South Dakota’s lone member of the U.S. House of Representatives, Kristi Noem, took a few minutes to say she knew the 200th Bridge Training Team would serve with distinction over the nine months it will be in the Middle East.
Pierre’s Mayor Steve Harding, himself a retired National Guard Colonel, said the community of Pierre well remembers the service members of the 200th Engineer Company rendered them during the 2011 flood.
“I can tell you when the 200th rolled into town you could about hear the sigh of relief,” Harding said.
That help and reassurance wouldn’t go unreturned, he said.
“I can assure you, your family and friends that you’re entrusting to the community will be taken care of,” Harding said.
The 200th Bridge Training Team first will be sent to Fort Bliss in Texas to finish a round of training before heading overseas later this year.