Photos

Maj. Gen. Peter Nezamis is presented with a certificate of retirement by Maj. Gen. Rich Neely, the Adjutant General of Illinois and Commander of the Illinois National Guard, during a retirement ceremony June 17 at the 126th Air Refueling Wing, based at Scott Air Base, Belleville, Illinois.

Maj. Gen. Peter Nezamis, with his spouse, Teeshia and their sons, Nicholas, Eric Peter, and Alexander, at a retirement ceremony June 17 at the 126th Air Refueling Wing, based at Scott Air Base, Belleville, Illinois. Nezamis will retire later this summer after more than 37 years of service spanning the Michigan Air National Guard and Illinois Air National Guard.

Maj. Gen. Peter Nezamis speaks to those in attendance during a retirement ceremony June 17 at the 126th Air Refueling Wing, based at Scott Air Base, Belleville, Illinois. Nezamis will retire later this summer after more than 37 years of service spanning the Michigan Air National Guard and Illinois Air National Guard.

Chief Warrant Officer (5) Thomas R. Black is the sixth Command Chief Warrant Officer of Illinois and the fourth full-time Soldier to hold the position. He serves as principle adviser to the Adjutant General on all matters pertaining to warrant officers. As the State Command Chief Warrant Officer, Chief Black is responsible for keeping the Adjutant General informed and makes recommendations on matters related to warrant officer accessions, training, education, promotion, and career management. As the lead for warrant officer affairs, he works closely with the leadership of National Guard Bureau and the Department of the Army Officer Branches throughout the United States. (courtesy photo)

Spc. Jeremy Ridlen, of Maroa, Illinois.

Brig. Gen. Rodney Boyd, of Naperville, Illinois, Assistant Adjutant General – Army and Commander of the Illinois Army National Guard, talks with former Illinois Army National Guard Soldier Randall Romines, brother of Sgt. Brian Romines, following the Sgt. Brian Romines Memorial Highway dedication ceremony, June 6, in Anna, Illinois.

Melinda Clary, Sgt. Brian Romines’ mother, along with State Rep. Patrick Windhorst and State Sen. Dale Fowler, unveil the highway sign designating Illinois Highway 146 from Anna to Vienna, Illinois, as the Sergeant Brian Romines Memorial Highway during the dedication ceremony June 6 in Anna, Illinois.

Retired Maj. Gen. Johnny Miller, from Tamms, Illinois, who served as Romines’ battalion commander on June 6, 2005, talks about how June 6, 2005 was one of the hardest days in his 32-year military career, during the Sgt. Brian Romines Memorial Highway dedication ceremony June 6 in Anna, Illinois.

Melinda Clary, Sgt. Brian Romines’ mother, offers her appreciation to everyone who made the Sgt. Brian Romines Memorial Highway possible during the dedication ceremony June 6 in Anna, Illinois.

Brig. Gen. Rodney Boyd, of Naperville, Illinois, Assistant Adjutant General – Army and Commander of the Illinois Army National Guard, delivers remarks during the Sgt. Brian Romines Memorial Highway dedication ceremony June 6 in Anna, Illinois.

U.S. Air Force Col. Daniel McDonough, the commander of the 182nd Airlift Wing, Illinois Air National Guard, was selected to lead the Illinois Air National Guard. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Tech. Sgt. Lealan Buehrer)

Erin Nilles, second from left, of Venedy, Illinois, a 2022 graduate of Okawville High School, Okawville, Illinois, was selected as a scholarship recipient in the amount of $2,500 at the annual National Guard Association of Illinois banquet and awards ceremony in Springfield, Illinois, May 20.

Former U.S. Congressman and retired major general Gen. William L. Enyart, who served as the 37th Adjutant General of Illinois, talks about the Illinois National Guard training the Ukrainian military in the 1990s during his keynote address at the annual National Guard Association of Illinois annual banquet and awards ceremony in Springfield, Illinois, May 20.

U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth thanks the members of the National Guard Association of Illinois for selecting her as the 2022 NGAI Legislator of the Year. Duckworth delivered her remarks at the annual banquet and awards ceremony via a pre-recorded video message.

Illinois Army National Guard Col. Nick Johnson of Evanston.

Illinois Army National Guard Col. Craig Holan of Litchfield

Illinois Army National Guard Sgt. 1st Class Anthony Gorup, the Noncommissioned Officer-Charge of the Illinois National Guard's Joint Operations Center, retired with almost 26 years of service on Sunday, May 15, during a ceremony on Camp Lincoln in Springfield.

Chief Warrant Officer (2) Aendri Decker, Chief Warrant Officer (2) George Frimpong and Sgt. Jonathan Blair (left to right), all representing 1st Battalion, 106th Aviation Regiment as the Illinois Army National Guard’s first African-American flight crew pose for a photograph March 31, 2022 in Kankakee, Illinois. The three hope to inform other African-Americans of the opportunities to fly aircrafts in the military. (photo courtesy of Chief Warrant Officer (2) George Frimpong)

Chief Warrant Officer (2) Aendri Decker, Chief Warrant Officer (2) George Frimpong and Sgt. Jonathan Blair (left to right), all representing 1st Battalion, 106th Aviation Regiment as the Illinois Army National Guard’s first African-American flight crew pose for a photograph March 31, 2022 in Kankakee, Illinois. The three hope to inform other African-Americans of the opportunities to fly aircrafts in the military. (photo courtesy of Chief Warrant Officer (2) George Frimpong)

Photo of Maj General Neely (TAG-Illinois) speaking at podium outdoors