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 | March 31, 2010

State leaders thank Massachusetts Guardsmen

By Spc. Nicholas Michaud Massachusetts National Guard

LEXINGTON, Mass., - Soldiers of the 272nd Chemical Company of the Massachusetts Army National Guard, who were tasked with filling sandbags in support of Operation Rising Water, were surprised with visits from top Massachusetts officials March 30.

Gov. Deval Patrick and Sen. Scott Brown, who were on site at the Lexington Department of Transportation to receive briefings on the operation, also checked on the Soldiers well-being and offered words of support.

Upon arrival, Patrick was briefed by the commander of the 79th Troop Command, Lt. Col. Paul Landry.
Following the briefing Patrick inspected the sandbagging operations and provided a briefing to the media.

"As usual, the National Guard has stepped right up," said Patrick, as he spoke to members of the media, "and been total professionals from the beginning."

Throughout his visit, Patrick walked among the troops and offered his thanks to the Soldiers.

"I want to make sure everyone is adequately supplied and getting the food and rest they need," said Patrick.

Brown, who is also a member of the Massachusetts National Guard, stopped by to offer his support to the troops.

He also stepped in to help with the sandbagging operations.

"When I was younger we used to make them by hand and now they have the machine from range control up at Edwards," said Brown.

As a morale booster, Brown provided coffee and donuts to the tired troops. He also took the time to personally thank every member of the Massachusetts National Guard working at the Lexington DOT site.

 

 

Related Articles
Airmen of the 179th Cyberspace Wing, Ohio Air National Guard, Mansfield, Ohio, graduate the first class of Non Kinetic Crew Commanders (NKCC), May 16, 2025.  The successful creation and execution of the NKCC course is an important accomplishment for the Air National Guard's first Cyberspace Wing, as an important milestone in their mission of Cyber Enabled Air Superiority.
Ohio National Guard Graduates First Non-Kinetic Crew Commander Course Class
By Master Sgt. Joseph Harwood | Aug. 7, 2025
MANSFIELD LAHM ANGB, Ohio- Airmen of the Ohio Air National Guard, 179th Cyber Operations Group, have graduated their first class of the newly created Non-Kinetic Crew Commander Course, or NKCC, hitting a new milestone in...

Sgt. Maj. of the Army Michael R. Weimer visited the Puerto Rico Army National Guard headquarters at Fort Buchanan on Aug. 4 to meet with senior leaders, engage with Soldiers, and recognize outstanding performance. He also traveled to Fort Allen, where he met with instructors at the 201st Regional Training Institute and with cadets of the Puerto Rico Youth ChalleNGe Academy. During these engagements, Weimer emphasized the importance of mentorship and developing the next generation of leaders—cornerstones of his leadership vision since becoming the Army’s 17th Sergeant Major in August 2023.
SMA Weimer Stresses Readiness, Unity In Puerto Rico Guard Visit
By Staff Sgt. Agustin Montanez, | Aug. 7, 2025
FORT BUCHANAN, Puerto Rico – Sgt. Maj. of the Army Michael R. Weimer visited the Puerto Rico Army National Guard headquarters at Fort Buchanan on Aug. 4 to meet with senior leaders, engage with Soldiers and recognize...

U.S. Army Soldiers with 1st Squadron, 91st Cavalry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade, conduct convoy operations with the Georgian Army from  Senaki Traning Area to Vanziani Traning Area July 26, 2025, during Agile Spirit 25. Agile Spirit 25 underscores the U.S. commitment to security and stability in the Black Sea region and highlights the importance of strong alliances and partnerships in addressing shared security challenges. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. Cameron Boyd)
Georgia Guard Plays Key Role in Agile Spirit 25
By Sgt. 1st Class Brittany Conley, | Aug. 7, 2025
VAZIANI, Georgia - Agile Spirit 25 officially concluded Aug. 6 after two weeks of multinational joint training across Georgia and Türkiye.The exercise brought together more than 2,000 troops from nine nations in a...