An official website of the United States government
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Home : News : Article View
NEWS | May 21, 2012

Polish president bestows medal upon Illinois governor, Guard members

By Illinois National Guard

MARSEILLES, Ill. - Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn and Army Maj. Gen. William L. Enyart, the adjutant general of the Illinois National Guard, welcomed the President of Poland, Bronislaw Komorowski, to the Marseilles Training Center here where they visited with Illinois Soldiers and Polish officers May 20.

The Illinois Army Guard Soldiers and Polish officers are conducting joint training as part of their military and civilian partnership through the National Guard Bureau State Partnership Program.

Quinn and Enyart were presented with the Commander's Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland, an honor that is bestowed upon foreigners for distinguished contributions to international cooperation with the nation of Poland. Thirteen other Illinois Guard members were also presented with the cross.

"We welcome President Komorowski to Illinois and thank him for the continued economic and military partnership with our state and the Illinois Army National Guard," Quinn said.

"This visit is a show of solidarity and support for our troops, and a testament to the great friendship that we have with Poland. I am honored to accept the Commander's Cross with Illinois' outstanding service members," he said.

The visit by the Polish dignitaries coincides with the NATO Summit, taking place in Chicago May 20-21.

"It was important for President Komorowski to see what training happens here in Illinois before his soldiers deploy to a combat zone with Illinois Army National Guard Soldiers," Enyart said.

"We truly value the great relationships we have developed with Poland since 1993 and today's visit only enhanced those relationships," he said.

The Illinois Army National Guard members honored with the Commander's Cross included: Army Brig. Gen. Johnny Miller; Col. Albert Cox; Lt. Col. Drew Dukett; Lt. Col Joseph Schweickert; Maj. Eric Davis; Maj. Stanley Manes; Capt. Andrew Adamczyk; Capt. Douglas Coop; Master Sgt. Richard Schap; Master Sgt. Terry Martin; Master Sgt. David Ray; Sgt. 1st Class Ryanzo Perez; and Sgt. 1st Class Michael Markham.

 

 

Related Articles
Spc. Jose Marfisi and Spc. Esteven Llopiz, assigned to the 714th Quartermaster Water Purification Company, secure a raw water intake pump during a Water Purification Rodeo at Lago Cerrillos, Ponce, Puerto Rico, July 24, 2026. The Soldiers positioned and secured the intake pump to ensure a continuous flow of raw water from the reservoir into the water purification system. The task is a critical step in establishing expeditionary water purification operations that provide safe, potable water in support of military operations and domestic emergency response missions. Photo by Sgt. 1st Class Eric Maldonado.
Puerto Rico Guard Distributes One Million Gallons of Water in Drought Response
By Siul Lopez Morales, | Aug. 28, 2026
CANOVANAS, Puerto Rico – The Puerto Rico National Guard has distributed more than 1 million gallons of water and purified more than 298,000 gallons of water through its Water Sentinels mission drought response, which focuses...
Soldiers assigned to the 1st Battalion, 147th Aviation Regiment, Wisconsin Army National Guard, conduct medical evacuation hoist training with role players portraying simulated casualties at the Combined Arms Collective Training Facility at Fort McCoy, Wisconsin, Aug. 24, 2026. Patriot 26, an Air National Guard-hosted exercise taking place at Volk Field Combat Readiness Training Center, brings together about 1,000 Airmen and Soldiers from National Guard units across 35 states, along with federal, state and local agencies, to enhance domestic response readiness and interagency coordination during large-scale emergencies. The scenario allows aircrews to practice locating, hoisting and evacuating simulated patients from areas where terrain or other conditions may prevent an aircraft from landing. Photo by Sgt. 1st Class Brittany Conley.
Guardsmen Boost Domestic Response Capabilities in Patriot 26
By Sgt. 1st Class Brittany Conley, | Aug. 28, 2026
FORT McCOY, Wis. – About 1,000 Airmen and Soldiers from National Guard units across 35 states are participating in Patriot 26 alongside federal, state and local agencies, strengthening their domestic response...
The Washington Army National Guard hosted the Construction Facilities Management Office 201 Resource Management Course, a three-day course in the Army National Guard G9’s national training program. Instruction focused on military construction appropriations, cooperative agreements and budget execution strategies, providing financial specialists, facility managers and senior leaders from across the country with tools to effectively manage funding while remaining compliant with fiscal law. Photo by Peter Chang.
Washington Guard Strengthens Fiscal Readiness
By Peter Chang, | Aug. 27, 2026
JOINT BASE LEWIS-McCHORD, Wash. – Financial specialists, facility managers and senior leaders from across the country gathered at the Aviation Readiness Center for the Construction Facilities Management Office 201 Resource...
More
Staying Connected
Hosted by WEB.mil Veterans Crisis Line number. Dial 988 then Press 1