P A R A T I S E R V I R E • R E A D Y T O S E R V EVol. 6 • ISSUE 1 April 2010P A R A T I S E R V I R E • R E A D Y T O S E R V E

INSIDETHIS ISSUE

GSDF Makes International NewsTop Story with Haitian AirliftBy CPT Arni Katz HQ PAO

The disastrous 7.0 earthquake that struck the impover-ished island of Haiti on 12 January 2010, an event that wouldhave overwhelmed the emergency services of even the mostdeveloped of nations, proved particularly devastating to thepeople of Haiti. As of 12 February 2010, an estimated threemillion people were affected by the quake, with the HaitianGovernment reporting that between 217,000 and 230,000 peo-ple had been identified as dead, along with an estimated300,000 injured, and a further 1,000,000 homeless.

After numerous countries responded to appeals for hu-manitarian aid, it quickly became evident that the most criti-cally injured patients would require medical care and facilitiesimpossible to provide in Haiti.

An air evacuation operation was initiated as part of Na-tional Disaster Medical System, under the Department ofHealth and Human Services. The system was first activated

during Hurricane Katrina, said National Disaster Medical Sys-tem area manager Kenneth Wheeler, based at the Atlanta VAMedical Center.

Because the of outstanding performance of the GeorgiaState Defense Force ground crews during the Katrina Airlift,our teams were once again activated for “Operation HealingHands.”

Night after night, sometimes in bitter cold, soldiers of theGSDF 1st Medical Company served in roles usually per-formed by the National Guard, whose members are currentlydeployed elsewhere around the globe in places likeAfghanistan and Iraq. Because of the trained professionalismexhibited by our soldiers, news coverage of our participationin this humanitarian effort was featured in numerous WorldTop Stories, including America Online’s International NewsHeadlines.

The first five injured Haitians, including an 18-month-oldchild with brain injuries, were airlifted from the USNS Com-fort, a Naval hospital ship deployed to Haiti to assist in themassive recovery effort, and transported to Dobbins AirForce Base, 2 February.

The GSDF, specifically, was tasked with supporting the94th Airlift Wing at DARB with the disembarkation of med-ical evacuees from Haiti. GSDF troops worked to establishflight lines, ramp controls and participated in the offload of in-jured Haitians.

continued on page 3

Call Center for48th BrigadeFamiliespage 4

CPT Howard’sHabitat forHumanity Buildpage 5

Chaplain CorpsRecruitmentpage 8

Photo courtesy ofMAJ EddieWilliams

H E A D S U P • A P R I L 2 0 1 0 2

Senate Resolution 1396By: Senators Thomas of the 54th, Thompson of the 33rdand Wiles of the 37th

A RESOLUTIONRecognizing and commending the Georgia State Defense Force;and for other purposes.

WHEREAS, the Georgia State Defense Force (GSDF) is com-posed of outstanding Americans serving the Department of De-fense and serving fellow Georgians without compensation orreward; and

WHEREAS, on February 2, 2010, the GSDF responded to a ten night operations mission to provide medical and flight line as-sistance for the National Disaster Medical System Patient Reception Area at Dobbins Air Reserve Base; and

WHEREAS, the objective of GSDF's important mission was a coordinated response with the Department of Defense and theDepartment of Health and Human Services to provide medical evacuation of seriously injured Haitian parolees to hospitals inthe Atlanta area; and

WHEREAS, the GSDF assignment was to control flight line access/safety; to coordinate patient offload procedures with theDepartment of Defense Medevac Crew, the Department of Customs, and Border Protection Officers; and to coordinate thetransportation to designated Atlanta area hospitals; and

WHEREAS, this "Healing Hands" mission was completed with flawless precision, dedication, professionalism, and compassionand helped save or substantially improve the lives of 50 Haitian neighbors; and

WHEREAS, members of Operation Healing Hands 2010 included Adam Allgood, Carole Anderson, Salih Baaith, WilliamBarrett, Jerry Bradford, Jim Bryant, Wayne Carter, Christy Cechman, Dan Clark, Thomas Cole, Boyd Cox, Marcus E. Davis,Allen Douglas, Edward Faron, Robert Flavin, Terry Fretwell, Jaime Garcia, Carl Gentry, Leonard Goodelman, Brian Griffith,Jim Grizzle, William Hale, Gary Hammonds, John Harvey, Michael Hatfield, Paul Hildreth, Eric Horne, David Howell, MarcJean-Pierre, William Jenkins, Arni Katz, Sang Lau, Tom Liles, Jennifer Long, Matt Lorton, Guilford Matthews, Richard Matt-son, Angela McClendon, Ken Miller, Richard Pope, Jonathan Ray, Mike Ray, Deborah Redling, Christopher S. Reed, Daniel S.Reed, Mary E. Reed, William Reiner, Eric Rusca, Ron Russell, Robert Russo, David Schacher, Robert Scuffield, Mary AnnShamatta, Earl Simmons, Douglas Skinner, Stephen Smith, Hector Soto, Charles Surrusco, Nicole Tapley, Lori Thompson,Demetri Vacalis, Carol Vaughan, Mark Vaughan, Jeffrey Ulmer, Dennis Watts, Bill Weeks, Jerry Willard, Eddie Williams, JeffWilson, and Sheri Zahn; and

WHEREAS, it is abundantly fitting and proper that the outstanding work of Operation Helping Hands be appropriately recog-nized.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE that the members of this body commend the Georgia State De-fense Force for their humanitarian and life-saving efforts.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of the Senate is authorized and directed to transmit an appropriate copy ofthis resolution to the Georgia State Defense Force Commanding General, Brigadier General Jerry J. Bradford.

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SLC Graduationby CPL Jim Zegers HQ PAO

The Georgia State Defense Force 1st Brigade honored therecent graduates of the Soldier Leadership Course on March7th at Acworth’s City Hall.

Twenty four soldiers from different units celebrated theiraccomplishments in front of a standing room only audience atcity hall. The ceremony was hosted by SGT Steve Scruggs,NCOIC/Lead Instructor and included speeches from CSMMichael DiCiacca, Commandant of SLC, Tommy Allegood,Mayor, City of Acworth and BG Jerry Bradford. CPL RichardPope, one of the graduates, interpreted the speeches in signlanguage. In addition to the graduation, several promotionswere presented by BG Bradford and some family members ofthe soldiers.

The Soldier Leadership Course teaches soldiers within achallenging, intensive environment, the standards of leader-ship, training, technical and tactical competence, and overallprofessionalism that the NCO Corps throughout the GSDFmust maintain.

The GSDF has built a special working relationship withthe City of Acworth and was recently honored in the city’sbusiness forum. For several years, the GSDF has providedtroops for traffic control and security for Acworth's Fourth ofJuly Concert & Fireworks which draws 10,000 to 15,000 spec-tators to Lake Acworth each year. Also, in December, soldierswork traffic and security for the annual Shop With A Heroevent. In appreciation of the support provided to the citizensof Acworth, 1BDE has access several times a year to theircommunity center for IET, SLC and other classes.

The ceremony concluded with a song written by CPL Mor-gan Hintz 2BN/1BDE, Parati Servire Song and sung proudlyby all the graduates.

THE LIST OF GRADUATES INCLUDES:

1st BattalionCPL Corey Ranic

2nd BattalionCPL Glenn Brett, CPL Robert Harris, CPL Morgan

Hintz, CPL Glenn Schley

3rd BattalionCPL Eric Horne, CPL Jason Loefer, CLP Joy Perkins

4th BattalionPV2 Gerald Gifford, CPL Richard Pope

1st Medial CompanyCPL Mark Fitzgerald

911 Support CommandCPL Williams Barrett, CPL Boyd Cox, PFC Robert Hoff-

man, PFC Sang Lau, CPL William McKinney, CPLJoshua Pettett, CPL Mark Tenn Hue

Med/1CPL David Litts, CPL Robert Pilgrim

Division HQCPL Richard Legrand, PFC Patti Pratt

1 BDE HQCPL Edgar Leicht, SGT Donald Sullivan

Every night a C-130 touched down at Dobbins Air Re-serve base GSDF soldiers were present to offload victims anddeliver them to the line of waiting ambulances. Customs andborder patrol personnel worked to secure the arriving aircraft.Patients were wheeled down on gurneys, with medical teamsand translators checking to insure that everything was readyfor transport.

After the first week of receiving evacuees, the GSDF haddedicated a total of 97 troops and 149 man-days to the causeof helping the people of Haiti. All told 50 critically injuredHaitians, along with a number of US military personnel in-jured during the course of the relief effort, were started on theroad to recuperation by soldiers of the GSDF.

The mission continued from 2 February to 5 March, andinvolved 10 night operations.

Haitian medical evacuees and their families entered theUnited States on Medical Parolee Status, which is adminis-tered by the Department of Homeland Security, and separatefrom refugee or asylum programs. They are still eligible formany of the same benefits, such as Social Security, Medicaidand food stamps.

Haiti Story continued from page 1

The Georgia State Defense Force, Atlanta VA MedicalCenter, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Georgia Emer-gency Management Agency, and Dobbins Air Reserve Basewere all actively involved in this operation.

H E A D S U P • A P R I L 2 0 1 0 4

Members of the GeorgiaState Defense Force (GSDF)are helping to keep familiesinformed of their Soldiers' re-turns from Afghanistan bymanning a call center set uphere in what is Georgia’s JointForces Headquarters "homeaway from Ellenwood."

Their mission is to notifyfamilies about the arrivaltimes of flights carrying Sol-diers from the 48th InfantryBrigade Combat Team to Sa-vannah’s Hunter Army Air-field.

“Our staff performs an in-valuable service to the lovedones of these returning war-riors,” said State DefenseForce assistant chief of stafffor logistics, Col. CameronReeves. “These families andSoldiers have been apart fortoo long, and we want to do

all we can to help bring them back together.”The center’s secondary mission is to provide a place where

families can call to check on flights. On average, four to eightSDF Soldiers man the call center’s eight phones. The teamworks from 7 a.m. to midnight and usually runs two shifts.

Each staff member receives a list of the Soldiers comingThe call center number is:

1-877-843-8585

home on a particular day. Whoever is listed on the Guards-man’s emergency contact sheet is notified within 36 to 72hours of that Soldier’s return.

Reeves said that, on average, the call center receives 200to 300 calls per day.

According to GDSF 2nd Lt. Clarence O’Rear, whoworked the call center for the brigade’s return from Iraq, the2006 operation averaged about the same number of calls.

State Defense Force Cpl. Doug Barrett added that the ma-jority of the calls he receives are from family and friends ask-ing when their Soldier is coming home. Sometimes, he said, Ihave to tell them I’m not sure and that they need to keepchecking back.

“It’s not what they want to hear, and it’s not what I or anyof us prefer to tell them,” Barrett said, “but we want to makesure we don't give them incorrect information. So, we askthem to keep calling.”

The GSDF has been at the Guard Garrison Training Cen-ter since February and will remain until the last Brigade Sol-dier comes home.

Georgia State Defense Force providescall center for 48th Brigade familiesGUARD GARRISION TRAINING CENTER, Hinesville, March 23, 2010

Story and photos by Sgt. Richard Holdridge, 124th MPAD, Georgia Army National Guard

H E A D S U P • A P R I L 2 0 1 05

Clark Howard Celebrates 15 Years of BuildingHomes With Atlanta Habitat for HumanityBy CPT Arni Katz HQ PAO

SGT Leonard Goodelman 1stMEDCO all other photos.

CPT Clark Howard, GSDF Deputy PAO, celebrated 15years of building homes for Atlanta’s Habitat for Humanity ina dedication ceremony 6 March 2010 in the distressed PolarRock community in southeast Atlanta.

Three completed homeswere dedicated with one bear-ing the sponsorship of TheGeorgia State Defense Force.A large contingent of GSDFsoldiers attended the dedica-tion ceremony at 1300 includ-ing BG Bradford.

A substantial workingcomponent from GSDF com-prising soldiers from 1st Med-ical Company arrived at 0800and immediately began construction work on one of the threehomes scheduled for dedication. These soldiers worked tire-lessly, breaking only for the dedication ceremony and then re-turning to the work detail after the ceremony concluded.

This working unit comprised PVTs Mary Reed, Daniel

Reed, Lori Thompson, SGTs Leonard Goodelman, AlanKlein (RR), Doris Burge and 1LT Elizabeth Hughes OIC ofthe unit.

CPT Howard left the work detail when the Varsity cater-ing mobile kitchen arrived, and he immediately set to work inthe service window taking orders and serving meals to thelarge contingent of volunteer working crews in addition to theGSDF soldiers.

Not including the 1st MEDCO construction team, 28GSDF soldiers arrived for the dedication ceremony at 1300.

Atlanta Habitat builds each home in seven days, startingwith the construction of the exterior and interior walls on dayone and ending with touch-up painting and landscaping onday seven.

In 2009, the Atlanta affiliate built more than 40 homes inneighborhoods from Carver Hills in northwest Atlanta to Syl-van Hills in the city’s southwest corner.

Since 1996, CPT Howard and his wife Lane have spon-sored 39 Atlanta Habitat for Humanity homes.

Photo courtesy of JenniferWise, Communications Specialist,Atlanta Habitat for Humanity

GSDF Band Performs at MLK Centerby CPL Jim Zegers HQ PAO

The Georgia State Defense Force Band performed at theMartin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site to celebrate Dr.King’s 81st birthday on January 16th.

The band and audience were welcomed by Tony Stennis,the Deputy Superintendent of the MLK Jr. National HistoricSite. Following, was a brief introduction by Faye Walmsley,Chief of Interpretation at the MLK Jr. NHS.

CSM Bardoul, interim Band Commander, began the trib-ute with the “Star Spangled Banner”. The band continued

with other national favorites, such as “Stars and Stripes For-ever”, “America the Beautiful”, and “This is My Country”, aswell as some favorites of Martin Luther King Jr.’s, such as“God of Our Fathers”, and “Georgia on My Mind”.

CPL Adams performed a vocal solo of “God Bless theUSA” and CPL Stamey sung a solo of “America the Beauti-ful”. The band’s version of “We Shall Overcome” was high-lighted with flutes by SGT Rucker and CPL Hawkins, andkeyboards by CPL Swinehart.

H E A D S U P • A P R I L 2 0 1 0 6

We are a band of brothers comeTogether for one goal;“Ready to Serve” our state and countryWhere’re we may go.And when Georgia is threatened withDisaster near or far;Hooah! For the GSDF, the spirit of the Guard

ChorusHooah! Hooah! For GSDF Hooah!Hooah! For GSDF, the spirit of the GuardHooah! Hooah! For GSDF Hooah!Hooah! For GSDF, the spirit of the Guard

“Parati Servire”, we’ll answer to the callTo protect the Georgia citizensThe charge on us will fall.And the mission before us isTreacherous, long and hardHooah! For GSDF, the spirit of the Guard

Chorus

We marched with Gen’ral OglethorpeAnd Gen’ral Washington,Fought with our Texas brother for herIndependence;And we will stand today justAs we did at Bloody Marsh!Hooah! For GSDF, the spirit of the Guard

Chorus

Hooah!

PARATI SERVIRE SONG(As sung to the tune of Bonnie Blue Flag)

by CPL Morgan Hintz 2BN/1BDE

Military TimelineReenactmentby PVT Eric Tedder HQ PAO

Where else can a Roman Legionnaire, a Viking warrior,Confederate soldiers, and American G.I.’s come togetherfor a weekend? Only at the Southern Museum of Civil Warand Locomotive History’s Military Timeline at the Swift-Cantrell Park in Kennesaw, Georgia. On November 14thand 15th living history interpreters from all over Georgiacame together to make more than two thousand years ofmilitary history come to life in a single setting. Visitors tothe military timeline were encountered by reenactors por-

traying medieval knights, pirates, Revolutionary War sol-diers, Romans, Vikings, Civil War soldiers, ScottishHighlanders, American G.I.’s, and Vietnam troops all dis-playing their lifestyle and equipment for the public to seeand interact with.

MAJ Rich Elwell, command historian for the GSDF,talked to one of the Georgia State Defense Force’s closestlinks at the timeline, Scottish Highlanders who would havefought under General James Oglethorpe at the Battle ofBloody Marsh in 1742. These highlanders as well as otherGeorgians answered the call for militia duty in order tostop rampaging Spanish armies from invading and terroriz-ing the new colony of Georgia soon after its founding.They spoke of the pride that they had to still see the volun-teer spirit alive and well in Georgia more than 250 yearslater, and the continued dedication of the Georgia StateDefense Force to this volunteer spirit.

Members of the GeorgiaState Defense Force Recruit-ing were also on hand tomuster up some new recruitsafter visitors walked throughthe timeline, and thereby hop-ing to capture the continuingspirit of the volunteer.

H E A D S U P • A P R I L 2 0 1 07

I N M E M O R I A M

SFC Martel - 2BNSFC Martel passed away onMarch 16 and was buried atthe Georgia NationalCemetary in Canton, GA.

Clark’s Christmas Kids Campaignby CPL Jim Zegers HQ PAO

Georgia State DefenseForce Soldiers participated inCPT Howard’s ChristmasKids Campaign on December12th at the East Cobb Wal-Mart.

It was the 19th year thatClark Howard and News/Talk750 WSB have joined to-gether with the Georgia De-partment of Family andChildren's Services to pro-vide gifts for children in fos-ter care across Georgia.Shopping cart after shoppingcart filled with toys floodedthe collection tables and keptClark’s helpers busy all after-noon.

News/Talk 750 WSB’sown Neal Boortz and per-formers from the AtlantaBallet came out to help the

cause. People also donated money for the opportunity to put apie in CPT Howard face. One gentleman gave his money tohave CPT Howard smash a pie in his face. However, the massamount of people who showed up throughout the day to buythe toys were the real heroes.

Because of the gen-erosity of Clark's listeners,the Christmas Kids Cam-paign collected about halfof all the gifts DFACs willgive to children in fostercare and because of CPTHoward’s hard work,every foster child in thestate received a gift forChristmas.

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GSDF Growing Through Chaplain CorpsRecruiting EffortsBy CPT Andy Creed HQ PAO

Besides addressing the spiritual needs of the faith basedtroops of the GSDF through chapel services, visiting the sick,receiving prayer requests, and taking part in weddings and fu-nerals, in recent years the GSDF chaplain corps has alsotaken on recruiting efforts by speaking in various churchesand civic groups all around the state. On 01/26/10 CPTJohnny Ashburn (1BDE Chaplain) and CPL Tim Ledford(1BDE Asst. Chaplain) spoke about the GSDF to the Princeof Peace Catholic Church Men’s Group Meeting in FloweryBranch and were joined that night by SGT Donald Sullivan(Recruiting and Retention NCO) and SGT Walter Degrassi(S-3).

These speaking engagements have become a very usefulrecruiting tool of the chaplain corps; speaking to churchgroups all over north Georgia from large intercity churches tosmall rural churches located in the piney woods miles fromany paved road. The Chaplains Corps has also spoken to vari-ous civic and school groups, such as the current Georgia AAState High School Champion football team, the BufordWolves. CPT Ashburn delivers a powerful inspirational mes-sage at these events, and they also serve as effective as re-cruiting tools for the GSDF. Those in attendance are alwaysencouraged to give serious consideration to joining the GSDF.Sometimes attendees give a polite response, sometimes a per-son will stand up in the middle of a service and ask if he canjoin right now. This happened at the Veterans Day service atProspect United Methodist Church in Lawrenceville in 2008.CPT Ashburn followed up after the service by administeringthe oath to the new soldier.

These efforts have been compounded greatly through theenthusiasm and zeal of some of the new recruits that joinedthe GSDF after GSDF speakers appeared at their church.PVT Gale O’Neal of the 3rd BN recently joined the GSDFafter hearing about the GSDF at Hamilton Mill UMC. NowPVT. O’Neal evangelizing about the GSDF to others and hasrecently given brigade and battalion recruiters names of fourindividuals that are very interested in joining the GSDF.

But these recruiting efforts by the chaplain corps have aspiritual purpose beyond just recruiting for the GSDF. In2008 and 2009, CPT Ashburn spoke on behalf of the defenseforce at Ephesus Christian Church, a rustic old church on anunpaved road in western Georgia not far from the Alabamaborder. Yes, these folks were interested in hearing about theGSDF, but the Lord had something different in mind on thosetwo occasions. While no one joined the defense force on thoseoccasions, when we sang the invitation hymn, people came upfront, kneeled at the alter, and accepted the Lord as their sav-ior. On those occasions, we were able to not only serve theGSDF, but be vessels used to serve the Lord in recruiting newmembers to his kingdom.

As we all know, one of the greatest roadblocks in recruit-ing is that the great majority of the population has neverheard of the GSDF, and many of those that have heard onlyhave a vague idea as to what it is and what they do. Thesespeaking engagements can be used to inform an audience thatis happy to listen but driven to serve. Anyone who is a mem-ber of a church or civic group that would be open to havingsomeone from the chaplain corps speak at a service or meet-ing, please feel free to contact CPT Ashburn, CPL Tim Led-ford, or contact the chaplain or assistant chaplain in your localbattalion.

Accomplishing our mission in January at Prince of PeaceCatholicChurch, from left to right is SGT Sullivan, CPTAsh-burn, I, and SGT Degrassi and standing in front is a new re-cruit, Mr. GaryWillie ofDacula (nowPVTWillie).

GSDF 2010 Birthday BallThe Commanding General Requests your presence at the GSDF 2010 Birthday Ball, June 19th, at 1800 hrs at the Crown

Plaza Ravina, 4355 Ashford Dunwoody Road, Atlanta, GA. Tickets for the ball are $45 each and you must RSVP by May 15th.Please make checks payable to The Association of the Georgia State Defense Force (TAGSDF).

Dress CodeMilitary Dress Uniform, Black Tie or Dark Business Suit, Cocktail dress long or short.Covered self-parking is available, Valet parking is available for a fee.The Crowne Plaza has set aside a block of rooms for the GSDF Ball. The special rate is $109 per night. To make reserva-

tions, call 770-395-7700 or 800-613-0412. Please identify group name GSDF. Special rates apply for reservations made beforeMay 29. After that date the prevailing rates apply.

Guest speaker will be Jack L. Tilley, 12th Sergeant Major of the Army (SMA), Ret.Registration forms will be emailed to you through your chain of command.

H E A D S U P • A P R I L 2 0 1 0 9

HEADS UP is the official newsletter ofThe Georgia State Defense Force

Submit articles & photos to CPT Arni Katz at arnikatz@yahoo.com. Articles are intendedfor publicizing unit missions, activities and events and to highlight GSDF members. Provide details: date,time, location and a brief description. Photos are encouraged. Photos with GSDF personnel should include

the rank and full name of the person(s). Provide a point-of-contact and phone numberor email address with any submissions.

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CPT Arni KatzDEPUTY PAO

CPT Clark HowardPVT Will TaylorMAJ Rich ElwellCPT Bill PamplinCPT Sandra KinneyCPT Arni KatzCW2 Mario de CarvalhoSGT Leonard GoodelmanPFC Jim ZegersCPT Andy CreedSGT Stephen SmithPV2 Mike CareyPV2 Eric Tedder

The 2009 Brigade Soldier of the Year award was recentlygiven to PFC Bill Weeks of the Georgia State Defense Force.CPT James Siniard, Battalion Commander of the 3rd Battal-ion 1st Brigade, announced that it would be one of his ownsoldiers to receive the award.

In mid- December the selection board recommended PFCWeeks to COL Ed Hightower, Brigade Commander, who thenannounced the award winner during the December “Shopwith a Hero” drill in Acworth, Ga.

PFC Bill Weeks is in 1st Brigade’s Alpha Company, 3rdBattalion stationed out of the National Guard Armory inWinder, GA and has been with this unit since joining theGeorgia State Defense Force in 2008. Making a run for thetitle from the very beginning, Weeks was honored with theCommandant’s Award for his outstanding performance during

his Initial Entry Training. PFC Weeks took runner up for theSoldier of the Year award in 2008 and was determined to placefirst in the 2009 standings.

A native of Baltimore, Maryland, Bill Weeks has lived inGeorgia since 2004. Weeks moved to Georgia to take a posi-tion with the IKEA Corporation as a fraudulent credit cardinvestigator, employing his criminal justice training. Weekscurrently works in the bankcard processing industry for RBSWorldPay as their Senior Credit Manager in the Credit RiskManagement group.

When not working or volunteering in the Georgia StateDefense Force, PFC Weeks likes to spend his time with hiswife, Sarah; new born son, Liam; and German Shepherdpuppy, Leben.

Private First Class honored as Brigade Soldier ofthe Year by PVT Chris Hill HQ PAO

2LT Eddie AnthonyJoins GSDF as BandDirector By PVT Mike Carey HQ PAO

2LT Edward (Eddie) Anthony has joined the GSDF as thenew director of the GSDF Band. A native of Conyers, GAand now residing in Cumming, 2LT Anthony is a musicteacher at Settles Bridge Elementary School in Cumming,GA.

He received a B.A. in Music Education with a minor inTuba Performance from Tift College of Mercer University inMacon, GA in 1983. Since completing his education he hasover 20 years of experience in leading church and schoolchoirs, bands, and orchestras. He has also performed with sev-eral symphony orchestras and ensembles.

2LT Anthony is also a minister, having earned a Mastersin Church Music, majoring in Ministry and minoring in Con-ducting, in 1989 from the Southern Baptist Theological Semi-nary in Louisville, KY.

Additionally, 2LT Anthony is the father of two sons, one24 and the other 19. The eldest is currently serving in theNavy as an Air Traffic Controller at NAS Fallon and theyounger, currently attending North Georgia College and ma-joring in music, also plans to join the Navy in April.

When asked about his reasons for joining the GSDF, 2LTAnthony said: “My sons have certainly encouraged me bytheir actions to make a greater commitment to my country. Iam very proud of their desire to serve and glad that I alsohave the opportunity to serve alongside them.”

The Georgia State Defense Force Band is a volunteer mu-sical organization that includes amateur and professional mu-sicians. The band was formed in 2005 and performs music forcivic and military events.

Recent performances in Georgia communitiesinclude concerts for:

Martin Luther King Weekend(MLK Natl. Historic Site, Atlanta);Fabulous 4th (July 4th) Festival (Conyers)Memorial Day (Fairburn)American Legion Post 160 (Smyrna)