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Armed Forces Week opens recognizing service members and their employers.

By TSgt Thomas Sobczyk, 128ARW Public Affairs / Published May 17, 2011

Members of Milwaukee's128th Air Refueling Wing Honor Guard present the colors during the ESGR breakfast held at the Wisconsin Club in downtown Milwaukee, May 16, 2011. Each year the Milwaukee Armed Forces Committee and Wisconsin Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) recognize the men and women who serve the armed forces and the employers that support them. U.S. Air Force photo by Tech Sgt. Thomas J Sobczyk / Released
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Members of Milwaukee's128th Air Refueling Wing Honor Guard present the colors during the ESGR breakfast held at the Wisconsin Club in downtown Milwaukee, May 16, 2011. Each year the Milwaukee Armed Forces Committee and Wisconsin Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) recognize the men and women who serve the armed forces and the employers that support them. U.S. Air Force photo by Tech Sgt. Thomas J Sobczyk / Released

Members of the 484th Army Band entertained guests during the ESGR breakfast held at the Wisconsin Club in downtown Milwaukee, May 16, 2011. Each year the Milwaukee Armed Forces Committee and Wisconsin Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) recognize the men and women who serve the armed forces and the employers that support them. U.S. Air Force photo by Tech Sgt. Thomas J Sobczyk / Released
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Members of the 484th Army Band entertained guests during the ESGR breakfast held at the Wisconsin Club in downtown Milwaukee, May 16, 2011. Each year the Milwaukee Armed Forces Committee and Wisconsin Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) recognize the men and women who serve the armed forces and the employers that support them. U.S. Air Force photo by Tech Sgt. Thomas J Sobczyk / Released

Members of Milwaukee's128th Air Refueling Wing Honor Guard present the colors during the ESGR breakfast held at the Wisconsin Club in downtown Milwaukee, May 16, 2011. Each year the Milwaukee Armed Forces Committee and Wisconsin Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) recognize the men and women who serve the armed forces and the employers that support them. U.S. Air Force photo by Tech Sgt. Thomas J Sobczyk / Released
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Members of Milwaukee's128th Air Refueling Wing Honor Guard present the colors during the ESGR breakfast held at the Wisconsin Club in downtown Milwaukee, May 16, 2011. Each year the Milwaukee Armed Forces Committee and Wisconsin Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) recognize the men and women who serve the armed forces and the employers that support them. U.S. Air Force photo by Tech Sgt. Thomas J Sobczyk / Released

Brigadier General Donald P. Dunbar, Adjutant General of Wisconsin, addresses guests at the ESGR breakfast held at the Wisconsin Club in downtown Milwaukee, May 16, 2011. Each year the Milwaukee Armed Forces Committee and Wisconsin Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) recognize the men and women who serve the armed forces and the employers that support them. U.S. Air Force photo by Tech Sgt. Thomas J Sobczyk / Released
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Brigadier General Donald P. Dunbar, Adjutant General of Wisconsin, addresses guests at the ESGR breakfast held at the Wisconsin Club in downtown Milwaukee, May 16, 2011. Each year the Milwaukee Armed Forces Committee and Wisconsin Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) recognize the men and women who serve the armed forces and the employers that support them. U.S. Air Force photo by Tech Sgt. Thomas J Sobczyk / Released

Tim Flatley, the executive director of Wisconsin's ESGR committee briefs guests during the ESGR breakfast held at the Wisconsin Club in downtown Milwaukee, May 16, 2011. Each year the Milwaukee Armed Forces Committee and Wisconsin Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) recognize the men and women who serve the armed forces and the employers that support them. U.S. Air Force photo by Tech Sgt. Thomas J Sobczyk / Released
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Tim Flatley, the executive director of Wisconsin's ESGR committee briefs guests during the ESGR breakfast held at the Wisconsin Club in downtown Milwaukee, May 16, 2011. Each year the Milwaukee Armed Forces Committee and Wisconsin Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) recognize the men and women who serve the armed forces and the employers that support them. U.S. Air Force photo by Tech Sgt. Thomas J Sobczyk / Released

Staff Sergeant Edel Rojas of the 347th Recruiting Squadron receives the Bong Award during the ESGR breakfast held at the Wisconsin Club in downtown Milwaukee, May 16, 2011. Each year the Milwaukee Armed Forces Committee and Wisconsin Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) recognize the men and women who serve the armed forces and the employers that support them. U.S. Air Force photo by Tech Sgt. Thomas J Sobczyk / Released
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Staff Sergeant Edel Rojas of the 347th Recruiting Squadron receives the Bong Award during the ESGR breakfast held at the Wisconsin Club in downtown Milwaukee, May 16, 2011. Each year the Milwaukee Armed Forces Committee and Wisconsin Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) recognize the men and women who serve the armed forces and the employers that support them. U.S. Air Force photo by Tech Sgt. Thomas J Sobczyk / Released

Boatswain’s Mate First Class Adam Kraft of the US Coast Guard: Sector Lake Michigan, receives the Bong Award during the ESGR breakfast held at the Wisconsin Club in downtown Milwaukee, May 16, 2011. Each year the Milwaukee Armed Forces Committee and Wisconsin Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) recognize the men and women who serve the armed forces and the employers that support them. U.S. Air Force photo by Tech Sgt. Thomas J Sobczyk / Released
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Boatswain’s Mate First Class Adam Kraft of the US Coast Guard: Sector Lake Michigan, receives the Bong Award during the ESGR breakfast held at the Wisconsin Club in downtown Milwaukee, May 16, 2011. Each year the Milwaukee Armed Forces Committee and Wisconsin Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) recognize the men and women who serve the armed forces and the employers that support them. U.S. Air Force photo by Tech Sgt. Thomas J Sobczyk / Released

Sergeant Ryan M. Lackey of Fox Company, 2nd Battalion, 24th Marines receives the Bong Award during the ESGR breakfast held at the Wisconsin Club in downtown Milwaukee, May 16, 2011. Each year the Milwaukee Armed Forces Committee and Wisconsin Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) recognize the men and women who serve the armed forces and the employers that support them. U.S. Air Force photo by Tech Sgt. Thomas J Sobczyk / Released
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Sergeant Ryan M. Lackey of Fox Company, 2nd Battalion, 24th Marines receives the Bong Award during the ESGR breakfast held at the Wisconsin Club in downtown Milwaukee, May 16, 2011. Each year the Milwaukee Armed Forces Committee and Wisconsin Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) recognize the men and women who serve the armed forces and the employers that support them. U.S. Air Force photo by Tech Sgt. Thomas J Sobczyk / Released

Master Sergeant Mike A. Schmaling of the 128th Air Refueling Wing receives the Bong Award during the ESGR breakfast held at the Wisconsin Club in downtown Milwaukee, May 16, 2011. Each year the Milwaukee Armed Forces Committee and Wisconsin Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) recognize the men and women who serve the armed forces and the employers that support them. U.S. Air Force photo by Tech Sgt. Thomas J Sobczyk / Released
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Master Sergeant Mike A. Schmaling of the 128th Air Refueling Wing receives the Bong Award during the ESGR breakfast held at the Wisconsin Club in downtown Milwaukee, May 16, 2011. Each year the Milwaukee Armed Forces Committee and Wisconsin Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) recognize the men and women who serve the armed forces and the employers that support them. U.S. Air Force photo by Tech Sgt. Thomas J Sobczyk / Released

Sergeant First Class Richard P. Gerard of the 132nd Army Band receives the Bong Award during the ESGR breakfast held at the Wisconsin Club in downtown Milwaukee, May 16, 2011. Each year the Milwaukee Armed Forces Committee and Wisconsin Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) recognize the men and women who serve the armed forces and the employers that support them. U.S. Air Force photo by Tech Sgt. Thomas J Sobczyk / Released
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Sergeant First Class Richard P. Gerard of the 132nd Army Band receives the Bong Award during the ESGR breakfast held at the Wisconsin Club in downtown Milwaukee, May 16, 2011. Each year the Milwaukee Armed Forces Committee and Wisconsin Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) recognize the men and women who serve the armed forces and the employers that support them. U.S. Air Force photo by Tech Sgt. Thomas J Sobczyk / Released

Hydro-Thermal Corporation was recognized for it's support of service members during the ESGR breakfast held at the Wisconsin Club in downtown Milwaukee, May 16, 2011. Each year the Milwaukee Armed Forces Committee and Wisconsin Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) recognize the men and women who serve the armed forces and the employers that support them. U.S. Air Force photo by Tech Sgt. Thomas J Sobczyk / Released
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Hydro-Thermal Corporation was recognized for it's support of service members during the ESGR breakfast held at the Wisconsin Club in downtown Milwaukee, May 16, 2011. Each year the Milwaukee Armed Forces Committee and Wisconsin Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) recognize the men and women who serve the armed forces and the employers that support them. U.S. Air Force photo by Tech Sgt. Thomas J Sobczyk / Released

Service members and employers were in attendance for the ESGR breakfast held at the Wisconsin Club in downtown Milwaukee, May 16, 2011. Each year the Milwaukee Armed Forces Committee and Wisconsin Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) recognize the men and women who serve the armed forces and the employers that support them. U.S. Air Force photo by Tech Sgt. Thomas J Sobczyk / Released
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Service members and employers were in attendance for the ESGR breakfast held at the Wisconsin Club in downtown Milwaukee, May 16, 2011. Each year the Milwaukee Armed Forces Committee and Wisconsin Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) recognize the men and women who serve the armed forces and the employers that support them. U.S. Air Force photo by Tech Sgt. Thomas J Sobczyk / Released

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MILWAUKEE -- Each year the Milwaukee Armed Forces Committee along with the Wisconsin Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) kicks off Armed Forces Week by recognizing the men and women who serve the armed forces and the employers that support them. The ESGR breakfast takes place at the Wisconsin Club in downtown Milwaukee and addresses issues important to military members and employers.

A special ceremony also takes place with military members from each branch receiving the Richard Bong award. Major Bong was born September 24, 1920 in Superior, Wisconsin. He is the top American Ace of all wars with 40 enemy aircraft destroyed in aerial combat and a recipient of the Medal of Honor. The Bong award recipients are chosen by their commanders for their outstanding service and dedication.


MAJOR RICARD BONG AWARD RECIPIENTS

SSGT Edel A. Rojas - US Air Force

BW1 Adam Kraft - US Coast Guard

SGT Ryan M. Lackey - US Marine Corps Reserve

MSGT Mike A. Schmaling - Wisconsin Air National Guard

SFC Richard P. Gerard - Wisconsin Army National Guard