BISMARCK, N.D. - A positive attitude and giving back to the community has earned a Bismarck
family the North Dakota Army National Guard's 2008 Family of the Year.
The Simek family - Jeff, Annette, Tryston and Michael - received the prestigious honor to
recognize their years of support and dedication to military members and families at the State
Combined Associations Conference Saturday evening in Bismarck.
"I know it is a challenge to balance work, family, military service and community involvement in
this day and age," said Rob Keller, director of Service Member and Family Support for the North
Dakota National Guard. "The Simeks have done an exceptional job of giving back to the community
and creating fun family memories, as well. They are an asset to our organization."
Sgt. Jeffrey Simek, a Dickinson native, serves in Headquarters and Headquarters Company of the
112th Aviation Battalion, which is based in Bismarck. It's his latest assignment after 19 years in the
North Dakota Guard. His wife, Annette, has been active with the Guard's Family Readiness Groups
for the past 13 years. Simek's commander, Capt. Doug Larsen, nominated the family for the award
after seeing the strong level of support and commitment they put in to helping others. His
nomination also included the couple's children - Tryston, 12, and Michael, 9.
"This nomination for Family of Year isn't just because Jeff and Annette Simek are wonderful
members of our community, our unit and the (Family Readiness Group), but because the entire
Simek family does their part and then gets the community involved to do their part," Larsen wrote in
his award nomination. "Several years ago a book came out with the catchy title, 'It Takes a Village
to Raise of Child.' The Simek family has empowered their 'Villages' to 'Support the Troops.' The
thoughts, letters and actions of this family have been invaluable to the Soldiers of the North Dakota
National Guard."
In recognition of the Simeks' years of support - including during Jeff's two deployments, one to
Bosnia-Herzegovina in 2003-04 and one to Iraq in 2005-06 - the family received an eagle statue,
flower arrangement, certificate of appreciation and personal letters of gratitude from Maj. Gen.
David Sprynczynatyk, North Dakota National Guard adjutant general; Brig. Gen. Al Dohrmann,
North Dakota National Guard deputy adjutant general; and State Command Sgt. Maj. Gerald Miller,
the North Dakota National Guard's senior enlisted Soldier.
| Date Taken: | 02.20.2009 |
| Date Posted: | 02.20.2009 12:39 |
| Story ID: | 30238 |
| Location: | BISMARCK, US |
| Web Views: | 274 |
| Downloads: | 242 |
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