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Posted by: Kim_Hamilton on 02/02/2010 11:12 PM
Updated by: Kim_Hamilton on 02/02/2010 11:14 PM
Expires: 01/01/2015 12:00 AM
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Governor Swears in Brigadier General Mary J. Kight as Adjutant General of the CA National Guard
Sacramento, CA...COLONEL KNIGHT: Ladies and gentlemen, please be seated. Now, we have in our audience today the outgoing Adjutant General's wife, Mrs. Leslie Wade and their son, Specialist Billy Wade. (Applause) Now, Mrs. Wade will be presented a bouquet of red roses -- red, the color of the heart -- and it reflects the loving concern that she has really had and she's really shown for our soldiers, our airmen and their families. Her bouquet of red roses, with buds open, signifies the completion of her service. (Applause)...
And we would also like to recognize Brigadier General Kight's brothers (Inaudible) Randy and Paul. (Applause) And it's an honor to introduce Speaker Karen Bass (Applause) and from Veterans Affairs, Secretary Brautigan. (Applause) Please welcome, happy to have CHP Commissioner Farrow, (Applause) Assemblyman Salas, (Applause) Assemblyman Knight, (Applause) Assemblyman Cook, (Applause) Secretary Baker. (Applause) And please welcome Alice Huffman, president of the NAACP. (Applause) And please welcome Aubry Stone, president, California Black Chamber of Commerce. (Applause)
Now, before we begin the official change of Command Ceremony, the Governor will present a state award to Major General William H. Wade II. Governor and General Wade, if you could please come forward? Would the audience please rise?
Attention to orders:
The Military Department, state of California. This is to certify that by direction of the Governor of California, pursuant to the authority invested in me, the California Legion of Merit Medal is presented to Major General William H. Wade II, the Adjutant General, California National Guard, for exceptionally meritorious service to the state as the Adjutant General, California Military Department, from 1 September 2005 through 31 January 2010.
Major General Wade's distinctive service significantly furthered the interests of the uniformed men and women and civilians of the California Military Department. His leadership at all levels directly contributed to accomplishing his number one objective for the California Military Department of establishing the educational assistance award program for our soldiers and airmen.
Furthermore, Major General Wade's warrior-statesmanlike approach proved extremely poignant in ensuring collaboration within the varied interests of the legislative environment. His tireless efforts, working with the Governor and the Governor's administration, were absolutely necessary to develop and execute a winning legislative plan. His strategic perspective and personal involvement marks years of passionate effort serving our soldiers and airmen in a manner that will positively affect them and those who follow.
Major General Wade's warrior ethos and untiring commitment to duty truly epitomizes that of a professional army officer. Major General Wade's performance of duty is in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflects great credit upon himself, the California Military Department, the California National Guard and the state of California.
Signed 5 January 2010
Arnold Schwarzenegger
Governor of the State of California
We will now begin the official change of Command. The Change of Command Ceremony is a time-honored tradition which formally symbolizes the continuity of authority as the command is passed from one commander to another. It's a formal ceremony which is conducted before the assembled command. The Change of Command as traditionally practiced within the United States Armed Forces is unique in the world today. It's a transfer of total responsibility, authority and accountability from one commander to another.
General Wade and Command Sergeant Major Clark will now case this flag, the flag symbolic of his position and authority, while the casing represents the end of his command of the California National Guard.
By order of the governor of the state of California, Major General William H. Wade II relinquishes command of the California National Guard effective 2 February 2010.
And now the governor will come up for the swearing in of our new Adjutant General.
GOVERNOR SCHWARZENEGGER:
I, Mary Kight --
GENERAL KIGHT:
I, Mary Kight --
GOVERNOR SCHWARZENEGGER:
Do solemnly swear --
GENERAL KIGHT:
Do solemnly swear --
GOVERNOR SCHWARZENEGGER:
That I will support and defend --
GENERAL KIGHT:
That I will support and defend --
GOVERNOR SCHWARZENEGGER:
The Constitution of the United States --
GENERAL KIGHT:
The Constitution of the United States --
GOVERNOR SCHWARZENEGGER:
And the Constitution of the State of California --
GENERAL KIGHT:
And the Constitution of the state of California --
GOVERNOR SCHWARZENEGGER:
Against all enemies --
GENERAL KIGHT:
Against all enemies --
GOVERNOR SCHWARZENEGGER:
Foreign and domestic --
GENERAL KIGHT:
Foreign and domestic --
GOVERNOR SCHWARZENEGGER:
And that I will bear true faith and allegiance --
GENERAL KIGHT:
And that I will bear true faith and allegiance --
GOVERNOR SCHWARZENEGGER:
To the Constitution of the United States --
GENERAL KIGHT:
To the Constitution of the United States --
GOVERNOR SCHWARZENEGGER:
And the Constitution of the State of California.
GENERAL KIGHT:
And the Constitution of the state of California.
GOVERNOR SCHWARZENEGGER:
And I take this obligation freely --
GENERAL KIGHT:
And I take this obligation freely --
GOVERNOR SCHWARZENEGGER:
Without any mental reservation --
GENERAL KIGHT:
Without any mental reservation --
GOVERNOR SCHWARZENEGGER:
Or purpose of evasion --
GENERAL KIGHT:
Or purpose of evasion --
GOVERNOR SCHWARZENEGGER:
That I will well and faithfully --
GENERAL KIGHT:
That I will and faithfully --
GOVERNOR SCHWARZENEGGER:
Discharge the duties --
GENERAL KIGHT:
Discharge the duties --
GOVERNOR SCHWARZENEGGER:
Upon which I'm about to enter.
GENERAL KIGHT:
Upon which I'm about to enter.
GOVERNOR SCHWARZENEGGER:
Congratulations.
GENERAL KIGHT:
Thank you, sir.
GOVERNOR SCHWARZENEGGER:
Let's give her a big hand. (Applause)
COLONEL KNIGHT:
Please be seated. It's my distinct pleasure at this time to introduce our first speaker, Speaker Karen Bass. (Applause)
SPEAKER BASS:
Good morning, everyone. Today is a very exciting day in history and I'm proud to be here today welcoming General Mary Kight as the Adjutant General of the California National Guard and as the first African-American woman to lead a state National Guard in our state or in any other. (Applause)
I am also very pleased to join in thanking General Wade for his devoted and effective service to California and to the Guard. We have worked together closely over the last few years and, although we are welcoming in a new leader, we are also sorry to see you go. (Applause)
General Kight, having grown up in Monterey and served in Nebraska, she has shown that she can definitely adapt to any situation. Her reputation is as someone who cares deeply for the men and women in the Guard, especially when it comes to educational opportunity, such as the National Guard Tuition Assistance Program, which she advocated for and which the legislature adopted last year as part of the budget.
General Kight has said one of her favorite things is sharing her experiences with the next generation. That's very important. When I was sworn in as the first African-American woman Speaker of the Assembly I knew I only got there because I stood on the shoulders of those who came before me. And I know how important it is to make room for those to come and I am delighted to see a leader like General Kight helping provide inspiration for so many young women and men and helping them build their futures.
I found out we have something in common -- both of us were the only girls in our family and we have three brothers. And it was my honor -- (Laughter, applause) to meet her three brothers earlier.
General Wade, arrivederci and grazie. (Laughter, applause) And I know I'll stand in front of a long line of people who want to come visit you in Naples. (Laughter) And General Kight, congratulations. And thank both of you and all the outstanding members of our National Guard for answering the call. Thank you very much. (Applause)
COLONEL KNIGHT:
Thank you so much. Ladies and gentlemen, it's my distinct pleasure to introduce the Commander in Chief of the California National Guard, the Honorable Arnold Schwarzenegger. (Applause)
GOVERNOR SCHWARZENEGGER:
Thank you very much, Colonel Knight, for the nice introduction. And General Wade, General Kight, Speaker Bass and Command Sergeant Major Clark and all of you here, It's great to be here today. I just had the honor of swearing in your new leader, General Kight.
However, before I say a few words about this wonderful woman I want to just first say thank you to General Wade for his extraordinary service. And you will hear me say thank you many times, so stay with me, OK?
Because I first want to say thank you for taking the finest National Guard in the country and making it even better.
And thank you for all the great work you did overseas in Kosovo, in Iraq, Afghanistan and all over the world.
And thank you for your leadership during Hurricane Katrina, where you sent very quickly the brave men and women to save lives there.
And thank you for helping to secure out southwestern borders -- and that, of course, reduced our illegal crossings by 26 percent.
And in the midst of global demands, thank you for making sure that the Guard could still fulfill its responsibilities right here at home.
And thank you for making sure that the federal government is giving us back all of our equipment that they have taken to Iraq. (Laughter) You know what I'm talking about, because we were fighting that. (Applause) Oh, yeah.
And thank you also for always answering my calls. (Laughter) If it is at 11:00 o'clock at night or at 1:00 in the morning or at 3:00 in the morning you always, after those calls, jumped into action, no matter if it was an earthquake or if it was a flood or a mudslide, or whatever it was, you jumped into action immediately.
And I want to say a special thank you for your help during the fires that we had just two years ago, where we had 2,012 fires at the same time and we didn't have enough resources and enough manpower to fight all of those fires. And again General Wade, with the National Guard, jumped into action and helped out. So a big, big, thank you for that and getting us through and pulling us through those dark days.
And thank you for creating one of the most comprehensive mental health care programs in the country and for fighting to give your men and women the education benefits that they deserve. And because of your great work there are now available funds dedicated to helping the Guard members pay for their college. Thank you for doing that.
And of course, most importantly -- most importantly, thank you for always, when you go overseas, to bring me back those good cigars. (Laughter) Thank you, thank you, General Wade. Thank you. (Applause) Now, I know that General Kight is saying, "I know nothing about cigars, what do I do now?" (Laughter) Don't worry about it. (Laughter) He can get them to me from Italy, so there's no -- (Laughter) No problem, no problem. (Applause)
Now, as we all know, that the general will soon begin a new position with NATO. This is our loss but certainly their gain. So General Wade, on behalf of all Californians, I want to say thank you, thank you, thank you, for your service, for your sacrifice and for making California a stronger and safer state. And thank you for your great friendship. And I can tell you one thing, I will miss you. Thank you very much. Let's give him a big, big hand. (Applause)
Now, part of being a great leader is bringing in qualified people beneath you and General Wade certainly did that. And that is why I have such supreme confidence in your new leader, Brigadier General Mary Kight. General Kight has more than 30 years of distinguished military service. She has been described as a strong leader, a hard worker and a pioneer. And every time you say to her, you say, "You're doing such an unbelievable job."
She says, "I'm just doing my job." So she's very, very humble.
But the fact of the matter is I'm proud that today General Kight becomes the first female adjutant general in California's history, leading the National Guard and the first female African-American adjutant general in our nation's history. Let's give her a big hand for that. (Applause)
Like General Wade, she will be a wartime leader and will face tough challenges. But General Kight, I have confidence in your ability and in your leadership and I look forward to working with you. I've seen you already in action in all those meetings when you were there in my office and how quickly you can make decisions, so I'm really looking forward to our working together.
And in closing, I just want to say thank you to both General Wade and General Kight and to all the soldiers and the airmen and your families that are here today, I want to also say thank you for being, as your motto says, always ready and always there.
And I have seen that when I just was there two months ago in Iraq, visiting our troops over there for the second time. And I had such a great time. I had the chance to hang out with our California National Guard, working out with them, pumping up at 6:00 in the morning, (laughter) having breakfast afterwards, taking pictures and schmoozing and pumping them up and all of those things. And I saw how ready you are for action, so thank you very much, you make me really proud. Thank you, thank you, thank you. Thank you very much. (Applause)
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