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U.S. Senator Dick Durbin delivers remarks at the groundbreaking ceremony for a $13.4 million 24,000-square-foot Base Civil Engineer Complex at the 183rd Wing on Abraham Lincoln Capital Airport.

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U.S. Sen. Richard Durbin (center) and Maj. Gen. Rich Neely, third from left, the Adjutant General of Illinois and Commander of the Illinois National Guard, are joined by Jason Litteken, the President of Litteken Construction, the general contractor for the project Sergio Pecori, the Chief Executive Officer of Hanson Professional Services, which designed the project, Springfield Mayor Misty Buscher, Brig. Gen. Dan McDonough, Assistant Adjutant General – Air and Commander of the Illinois Air National Guard, Col. Robert Gellner, Commander of the 183rd Wing, and Col. (ret.) Randy Sikowski, the Downstate Director for U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth, at the groundbreaking ceremony for a $13.4 million 24,000-square-foot Base Civil Engineer Complex at the 183rd Wing on Abraham Lincoln Capital Airport.

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Maj. Gen. Rich Neely, the Adjutant General of Illinois and Commander of the Illinois National Guard, speaks at the groundbreaking ceremony for a $13.4 million 24,000-square-foot Base Civil Engineer Complex at the 183rd Wing on Abraham Lincoln Capital Airport.

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Maj. Gen. (ret.) William Enyart, 37th Adjutant General of Illinois and a former Congressman for District 12, and Brig. Gen. Mark Alessia, Director of the Illinois National Guard Joint Staff, are joined by Pvt. Mason Patterson, the newest member of the Illinois National Guard, in attendance at the Illinois National Guard’s 300th birthday event in Kaskaskia, Illinois, May 9.

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Brig. Gen. Mark Alessia, Director of the Illinois National Guard Joint Staff, presents a certificate of appreciation from Maj. Gen. Rich Neely, the Adjutant General of Illinois and Commander of the Illinois National Guard, to local historian Emily Lyons, during the Illinois National Guard’s 300th birthday celebration in Kaskaskia May 9.

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Brig. Gen. Mark Alessia, Director of the Illinois National Guard Joint Staff, presents a certificate of appreciation from Maj. Gen. Rich Neely, the Adjutant General of Illinois and Commander of the Illinois National Guard, to the Immaculate Conception Church committee, during the Illinois National Guard’s 300th birthday celebration in Kaskaskia May 9.

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Brig. Gen. Mark Alessia, Director of the Illinois National Guard Joint Staff, presents a letter of Recognition to the Village of Kaskaskia from Maj. Gen. Rich Neely, the Adjutant General of Illinois and Commander of the Illinois National Guard, to Michael Sulser, President of the Village of Kaskaskia, and his wife, Mary, during the Illinois National Guard’s 300th birthday celebration in Kaskaskia May 9.

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The French Marines Les Companie Franche de La Marine, de Fort de Chartres Commanded by Captain Don Martin, fire a rifle volley commemorating the Illinois National Guard’s 300th birthday during the celebration at Kaskaskia, May 9.

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Brig. Gen. Mark Alessia, Director of the Illinois National Guard Joint Staff, talks about some of the missions the Illinois National Guard has worked during its 300 years of service during the Illinois National Guard’s 300th birthday celebration in Kaskaskia, May 9.

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Maj. Gen. (ret.) William Enyart, the 37th Adjutant General of Illinois and a former U.S. Congressman for District 12, talks about the future of the Illinois National Guard during the Illinois National Guard’s 300th birthday celebration in Kaskaskia, May 9.

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Veterans from VFW Post 3553 and American Legion Post 487 post colors at the Illinois National Guard’s 300th birthday celebration in Kaskaskia May 9.

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The Sparta High School band, under the direction of Band Director Keith Shasteen, performs a musical selection at the Illinois National Guard’s 300th birthday celebration in Kaskaskia May 9. Shasteen is a Chief Warrant Officer 2 in the Illinois Army National Guard, and is the commander of the 144th Army Band, based in Chicago.

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Retired U.S. Army Gen. Frank Grass, the 27th chief of the National Guard Bureau, speaks during the Illinois National Guard's 300th anniversary gala at in the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum in Springfield, Illinois, May 6, 2023.

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Polish Defense Minister Mariusz Błaszczak speaks during the Illinois National Guard's 300th anniversary gala at in the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum in Springfield, Illinois, May 6, 2023.

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U.S. Air Force Maj. Gen. Richard Neely, the 40th adjutant general of the state of Illinois, gives opening remarks during the Illinois National Guard's 300th anniversary gala at in the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum in Springfield, Illinois, May 6, 2023.

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Cadets with the Lincoln's Challenge Academy Color Guard post the colors during the Illinois National Guard's 300th anniversary gala at in the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum in Springfield, Illinois, May 6, 2023.

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The Air National Guard Band of the Midwest, based at the 182nd Airlift Wing in Peoria, Illinois, and under the direction of Illinois Air National Guard Lt. Col. Bryan Miller, performs a musical selection during a concert celebrating the Illinois National Guard’s 300th birthday as part of day-long events in Springfield, May 6.

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Maj. Gen. Rodney Boyd, Assistant Adjutant General – Army and Commander of the Illinois Army National Guard is joined by Airman 1st Class Ben Wyland, one of the youngest members of the Air National Guard Band of the Midwest, for a ceremonial cake cutting celebrating the Illinois National Guard’s 300th birthday during events in Springfield, Illinois, May 6.

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Patrick Van Nevel, Honorary Consul of the Kingdom of Belgium, talks about the Illinois National Guard and Belgium’s shared history, during a ceremony commemorating the 78th anniversary of the rescue of King Leopold III from German Nazis during World War II by Soldiers from the Illinois Army National Guard’s 106th Cavalry Regiment and marking the 300th birthday of the Illinois National Guard in Springfield May 6.

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Reenactor volunteers present a complete military timeline representing the uniform and equipment used by the Illinois militia and later the Illinois National Guard from the early days in 1723 to modern day. The timeline presentation at the Illinois State Military Museum was part of the day-long events celebrating the Illinois National Guard’s 300th birthday in Springfield, Illinois, May 6.

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