This year I have had the pleasure of attending two ceremonies that make me exceedingly thankful that we have citizens that are willing to risk their lives for the protection of our homeland on the domestic front and abroad.  Both of these events involved soldiers of the North Carolina Army National Guard which has a facility based in Morrisville. 

The first was a deployment ceremony on September 25, 2008.  This ceremony was for the 449th Theater Aviation Brigade and it was so large due to families in attendance that it was held at Providence Baptist Church in Raleigh.  These soldiers deployed earlier this month to help support the mission in Operation Iraqi Freedom.  In about a year, with God’s grace, these soldiers will return home and I will get a chance to express my sincere gratitude for their service.

The second event involved domestic operations here in North Carolina.  On Monday of this week, the soldiers of Detachment 1, Bravo Company, 2-151st Aviation Battalion of the NC National Guard dedicated a new aircraft.  The UH-72A Lakota Light Utility helicopter (pictured below) is designed to conduct light, non-combat operations such as search & rescue, counter-drug missions, and operations in support of the Department of Homeland Security.

While we’re sitting around the dinner tables this Thursday with our families, please make sure to say a prayer of Thanksgiving for these citizen soldiers.

At tonight’s Town Board meeting, we will recognize the third class to graduate from the Morrisville CERT program.  CERT stands for Community Emergency Response Team.  Broken down into simple terms, CERT is neighbors helping neighbors in a time of emergency.

Over the 24 hours of training, you will learn about first aid technique, light search & rescue, extinguishing a small fire and you will experience a simulated event.  I was in the first CERT class for Morrisville and it has grown exponentially.  You have probably seen CERT team members wearing green CERT shirts during Morrisville Day at the Park or National Night Out. 

One of the team members, Jason Schlichte created an excellent website - www.morrisvillecert.org which contains great info about how to get signed up.  Contact CERT president Gary Martin or the Morrisville Fire Department for more information.  This is just one more great way to get involved with the Town of Morrisville.