Oregon National Guard Partners with Community for Landscaping Project 

Members of the Oregon National Guard collaborated with community volunteers to help landscape a local Salvation Army Hope House that provides support to the region’s homeless population.  

“Our strength comes from being connected to each other and to our communities,” Brig. Gen. Alan R. Gronewold said in a Guard report. “When our citizen soldiers volunteer their time and skills to serve their neighbors, they demonstrate exactly what it means to be connected, competent and committed.” 

Louisiana Community Hosts Military Family Hot Air Balloons
The Shreveport-Bossier community, one of this year’s three Great American Defense Communities, hosted hot air balloon rides for military families as a part of the second annual Balloon Glow Rally. The Bossier Press-Tribune reported that the event is run as a partnership between Barksdale Air Force Base and the Shreveport-Bossier Military Affairs Council. 

National Guard photo by Wayne Clyne