MONTGOMERY-The 750 soldiers of the Alabama National Guard completed their orders, which were in support of the Presidential Inauguration, Saturday, January 23. The soldiers returned home the following day. Upon the completion of a successful mission, Adjutant General Major Sheryl Gordon sent a letter to Governor Ivey. The letter is attached.January 28, 2021
The Honorable Kay Ivey Governor of Alabama
600 Dexter Avenue
Montgomery, AL 36130
Dear Governor Ivey:
The Alabama National Guard concluded its mission in support of the Presidential Inauguration on Saturday, January 23, 2021 , and our Soldiers returned to Alabama the following day. It is my pleasure to inform you that I consider Alabama’s participation in the security of the Capitol an unmitigated success.
Upon a personal request from the Chief of the National Guard Bureau, the Alabama
National Guard quickly mobilized and deployed over 750 Soldiers to the National Capitol Region as a part of the over 25,000 Soldiers and Airmen representing all 54 States, Territories, and the District of Columbia. Our portion of the mission involved providing security around the Capitol grounds, and our Soldiers performed in a highly professional manner, and thankfully encountered no significant hindrances to their mission. Our Soldiers were in fact part of those identified by the media as having been moved to the parking garage for their on-shift break, but this move had no significant impact to the mission or to the morale of our Soldiers. As we fully expect, our Soldiers reacted with grace and professionalism, and I take great pride in their conduct as they were essentially performing as ambassadors for the State of Alabama.
In addition to the satisfaction of a successfully performed mission, I am also remarkably proud of the Soldiers and Airmen of the Alabama National Guard who were responsible for getting this security element to the District of Columbia. It is difficult to put into words the herculean effort required to get this element mobilized, equipped, and deployed to DC in a remarkably short period of time, with zero incidents, clearly surpassing that which is normally expected of a Citizen-Soldier formation. Your National Guard team’s ability to procure supplies, coordinate transportation, provide lodging and meals, and fulfill information requirements to National Guard Bureau were a significant portion of the effort which enabled our Soldiers to arrive in the Capitol Region one day prior to the timeline requested by the National Guard Bureau.
As with many other States and Territories, our Soldiers were impacted by the COVID-19 virus during this mission, and a small number of Alabama’s Soldiers remain quarantined. Given the conditions of over 25,000 Soldiers and Airmen in a small area, it is a testament to our leadership on the ground that our Soldiers were not even more greatly impacted. We will continue to provide care and support to those impacted Soldiers until they successfully complete their required protocols.
The Alabama National Guard is honored to have supported the 59th Presidential
Inauguration. Your National Guard truly is and will continue to be “Always ready, Always
Sincerely,
Sheryl E. Gordon
Major General,
The Adjutant General
