2005 Flag Day Ceremony honoring ADC staff

Colleagues and co-workers, we rally together today, Flag Day, to celebrate the extraordinary men and women of the Arizona Department of Corrections who wear two distinguished uniforms, that of our country’s armed forces and that of our own first class organization.

They follow in good stead some 42 million Americans who have served; more than 800,000 giving their lives to fight for the freedom and the solidarity that our flag represents.

We celebrate our flag, and its powerful connection of our staff and our soldiers to Arizona, the west, the United States. Our flag is a symbol of their – your – patriotism, bravery and sacrifice. Today, we celebrate you – 70 corrections personnel on active duty, 125 corrections professionals awaiting deployment – and your families and your friends. You make us safe.

Please join with me and rise for the Posting of the Colors by the ASPC-Tucson honor guard. Remain standing for the National Anthem, it will be sung by our nightingale, CO II Katrina Breckenridge, also from ASPC-Tucson.

I am delighted to invite ADC Senior Chaplain Dan Butler to the podium to give the Invocation. Chaplain Butler, also a lieutenant colonel in the Army National Guard, has served with ADC for 12 years. He is assigned to ASPC-Perryville

Major General David P. Rataczak assumed the duties of Adjutant General, Arizona National Guard, on June 1, 1999, following three years of distinguished service as Assistant Adjutant General Army and seven years as the Chief of Staff, Arizona Army National Guard. Among his awards and decorations are the Legion of Merit and the Distinguished Flying Cross. [Also, the Meritorious Service Medal (with 1 Oak Leaf Cluster), the Air Medal (with 37 Oak Leaf Clusters), Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Master Army Aviator Badge, Armed Forces Reserve Medal, Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal, Army Service Ribbon and Vietnam Campaign Medal.]

Senator Blendu has represented District 12 with distinction since 2000 and before that, served in the Arizona House of Representatives from 1995 to 1996 and 2001-2002. The senator is a former U.S. Army paratrooper flying with the 101^st airborne division for three years, from 1961-1963. As a legislator he worked with the Governor to ensure the continuing operation of Luke Air Force Base, and to improve public safety. He is a friend to ADC and sponsor of SB1027 providing a tax exemption for active duty pay, and SB1053 addressing temporary military vacancies.

CO II Josue Salas, a correctional officer with ADC at ASPC-Yuma for 9 years, has also served nobly 15 years in the United States Marine Corps and the Army National Guard. He was honored with the Purple Heart for injuries received while involved in an IED (Improvised Explosive Devise) explosion outside of Al Ramadi, Iraq. He was activated in February 2003, served with the 855^th Military Police Company out of Phoenix, Arizona, and returned last May (2004). [Coincidentally, CO Doyle Clark, also of the Cheyenne Unit at ASPC-Yuma, was injured in the same explosion.]

Sergeant Tony Jackson has worked for the Arizona Department of Corrections for more than 12 years. Today he works as RUSH Sergeant for ASPC-Yuma. He has also served 18 years in the United States Marine Corps and the Army National Guard, most recently as Specialist. Mr. Jackson was honored with the Purple Heart for injuries received while involved in an IED explosion outside of Salluja, Iraq on August 18, 2003. He also received the Arcom Award (Army Commendation Award) while serving in Iraq. He was last deployed with the 855^th Military Police Company out of Yuma, Arizona. Specialist Jackson also served in Saudi Arabia in Desert Storm in 1990 where he earned three meritorious master awards.

CO II Doyle Clark has worked for the Arizona Department of Corrections for 9 years at ASPC-Yuma. Specialist Clark has also served with distinction over 14 years in the United States Navy and the Army National Guard. He was awarded the Purple Heart for injuries received while involved in an IED (Improvised Explosive Devise) explosion outside of Al Ramadi, Iraq. He was last deployed with the 855^th Military Police Company out of Phoenix, Arizona on February 6, 2003; returning October 1, 2004. [Coincidentally, CO Josue Salas, also of the Cheyenne Unit at ASPC-Yuma, was injured in the same explosion.] Our officer, Specialist Clark, also served in Saudi Arabia in Desert Storm and Desert Shield in 1990.

COII Jose J. Alatorre, an ADC officer since July 26, 1999, was assigned to ASPC-Lewis when he was activated in January 2004. A staff sergeant for the 3666 Maintenance Company, he was awarded the Purple Heart for his service in Iraq. CO Alatorre remains on active duty and under treatment at the Medical Hold Company in Fort Bliss, Texas, for injuries he sustained in combat. Representing our officer, Staff Sergeant Alatorre, today is his sister, Dorelia Brooks. Ms. Brooks works for the State Veteran’s services.

CO II Gary Garside, an ADC officer since August 1998 and a member of the United States Air Force for 22 years, is assigned to ASPC-Florence. COII Garside currently holds the rank of Master Sergeant in the US Air Force with the 162^nd Air Police Squadron. He was awarded two purple hearts for injuries sustained while engaged in battle during the Iraqi Freedom War. The first was for injuries sustained when he was hit by fragments from a rocket propelled grenade in Mozul, Iraq in October 2003. He received the second purple heart for wounds suffered when he was shot in the chest, while on convoy in January 2004. He returned to work at Florence Complex December 2005 and has been an ADC employee since 1997