WEBVTT

00:05.289 --> 00:07.345
Greetings out there to all my fellow

00:07.345 --> 00:09.400
citizen warriors of the South Dakota

00:09.400 --> 00:11.511
National Guard and your families . Uh

00:11.511 --> 00:13.733
As we approach the holiday season , I'm

00:13.733 --> 00:15.845
reminded of a couple of things that I

00:15.845 --> 00:17.511
thought was were worth our uh

00:17.511 --> 00:19.511
collective attention day . First is

00:19.511 --> 00:21.567
it's a really sweet season for us in

00:21.567 --> 00:23.678
the South Dakota National Guard right

00:23.678 --> 00:25.900
now because the majority of our service

00:25.900 --> 00:27.845
members are home this year for the

00:27.845 --> 00:29.900
holidays . And that's pretty unusual

00:29.900 --> 00:31.845
for us , like I said , uh , so two

00:31.845 --> 00:33.950
things I'd like us to um be grateful

00:33.959 --> 00:36.299
for that and be thankful that we're

00:36.310 --> 00:38.366
sharing , most of us are sharing our

00:38.366 --> 00:40.532
time with our families and our friends

00:40.532 --> 00:42.421
this holiday season . But also to

00:42.421 --> 00:44.588
remember , there still are a few South

00:44.588 --> 00:46.588
Dakota soldiers and airmen that are

00:46.588 --> 00:46.400
deployed right now and we should take a

00:46.409 --> 00:48.709
moment to be thankful for them as well

00:48.720 --> 00:50.819
as the myriad of other soldiers ,

00:50.830 --> 00:52.830
airmen , sailors , marines that are

00:52.830 --> 00:54.941
deployed around the world right now ,

00:54.941 --> 00:56.719
defending liberty and freedom .

00:56.719 --> 00:58.830
Secondly , I thought it was important

00:58.830 --> 01:00.941
for me to take a moment to say thanks

01:00.941 --> 01:03.108
to show my gratitude to all of you who

01:03.108 --> 01:05.274
wear our nation's uniform , especially

01:05.274 --> 01:07.330
those that serve here with me in our

01:07.330 --> 01:09.330
South Dakota National Guard . I am

01:09.339 --> 01:11.580
grateful for the amazing things that

01:11.589 --> 01:14.000
you do and that we do together on our

01:14.010 --> 01:16.730
teams . But I'm most grateful for who

01:16.739 --> 01:19.160
you are . Thank you for being the kind

01:19.169 --> 01:21.269
of people that live lives of service

01:21.559 --> 01:23.726
that are continuously dedicated to our

01:23.726 --> 01:25.970
communities and our state and our

01:25.980 --> 01:28.629
nation . Merry Christmas to each of you

01:29.220 --> 01:31.360
happy holidays . And Merry Christmas

01:31.370 --> 01:34.139
from my family to yours . Thank you for

01:34.150 --> 01:36.261
your continued commitment to serve in

01:36.261 --> 01:38.261
the South Dakota National Guard . I

01:38.261 --> 01:40.428
appreciate each and every one of you .

01:40.428 --> 01:42.150
Thank you for serving and your

01:42.150 --> 01:44.372
commitment to one another and for being

01:44.372 --> 01:46.372
a part of this amazing team . Enjoy

01:46.372 --> 01:48.372
some family time together with some

01:48.372 --> 01:50.372
friends . Merry Christmas and happy

01:50.372 --> 01:50.279
holidays .