Last week, I had the opportunity to join other community leaders in our role as Delaware National Guard Honorary Commanders. Spending time with the men and women who serve our state and nation through their membership in the Delaware National Guard (DNG) is always a privilege. I do not know the number of Delaware National Guard members who currently work for construction companies in their civilian life but currently there are 522,846 veterans working in the construction industry.

Being an Honorary Commander is about strengthening connections between the DNG and employers in our state who support our citizen soldiers. It’s also about sharing the good work the DNG is doing both here in Delaware as well as around the world. The DNG does amazingly diverse work. They are deployed helping to deliver critical food and medical supplies to Gaza right now. They perform some of the most sophisticated cyber security work being performed in the world. They utilized their resources just a couple of weeks ago to quickly analyze the deadly cocktail of drugs causing numerous overdoses in Sussex and Kent counties.

Although I’ve never served in the Delaware National Guard, I do have a 30-year history of supporting its mission. Recently, the Delaware National Guard reached out to DCA for help in support of something important to both of our organizations’ missions. I was pleased to provide a letter in support for the Delaware National Guard’s request for Community Project Funding for FY 2025. The request of $25.2 million is for the construction of three projects: Dagsboro Readiness Center, Scannel Readiness Center, and a safer entrance to the 166^th Airlift Wing. I am pleased, as I know DCA’s members are, to support the Delaware National Guard whenever we are called upon.

As we enter Memorial Day weekend, I rightly think of the men and women who gave the ultimate sacrifice for our nation. We all pray that those serving now are held safe and able to return to their families, employers and communities that value them. May we spend this holiday remembering the sacrifices of so many and pray for the safety of those currently serving.