Photos - Page 7

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Col. Michael Kowalski, Commander of the 33rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team Illinois National Guard, poses with members of the Rooster Society at the Polish Museum of America in Chicago.

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Mary Wilkerson listens to her spouse, Lt. Col. Justin Wilkerson, speak during his retirement ceremony.

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Lt. Col. Justin Wilkerson presents a certificate of appreciation to his wife, Mary Wilkerson, during his retirement ceremony.

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Lt. Col. Justin Wilkerson of the Illinois Army National Guard delivers remarks during his retirement ceremony.

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Col. Matthew Garrison, the Illinois National Guard Chief of the Joint Staff and Director of Strategic Plans and Policies for the Illinois National Guard, presents a retirement flag to Lt. Col. Justin Wilkerson, Joint Deputy Operations Officer for the Illinois Army National Guard, during Wilkerson’s retirement ceremony.

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Lt. Col. Justin Wilkerson of the Illinois Army National Guard and Illinois State Rep. Dan Swanson share a laugh while posing for a photo with the Illinois State Flag during Wilkerson’s retirement ceremony.

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Newly promoted Maj. Aaron Bryant thanks friends and family for their support throughout his military career during a promotion ceremony March 5 at the Illinois State Military Museum in Springfield.

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Col. Matthew Garrison, Chief of the Illinois National Guard Joint Staff, administers the oath of office to newly promoted Maj. Aaron Bryant during a promotion ceremony March 5 at the Illinois State Military Museum in Springfield.

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Sarah Crafton, the fiancé of newly promoted Maj. Aaron Bryant, tacks on new major rank during a promotion ceremony March 5 at the Illinois State Military Museum in Springfield.

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Members of the 8th Infantry Regiment Illinois National Guard Association and the National Guard Association of Illinois honor Aaron Benjamin, the 2026 recipient of the Captain Walter H. Dyett Award during a ceremony March 2 at the Walter H. Dyett High School for the Fine Arts in Chicago.

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Illinois Army National Guard Commander Brig. Gen. Lenny Williams poses for a photo with Walter H. Dyett High School for the Fine Arts student Aaron Benjamin, the 2026 recipient of the Captain Walter H. Dyett Award on March 2 at the high school.

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Brig. Gen. Steven B. Rice, Assistant Adjutant General-Air, Illinois National Guard, shares a story of cousins who served in the Illinois Army National Guard and were two of the nearly 1,400 Illinois National Guard Soldiers and Airmen deployed to Saudi Arabia during Desert Storm.

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Claudia Morales pins staff sergeant rank on her sister, Daniela Martinez.

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The family of Staff Sgt. Daniela Martinez pose for a photo after her promotion ceremony.

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Illinois Army National Guard Sgt. 1st Class Joshua Webb of Galesburg's C Battery, 2nd Battalion, 123rd Field Artillery Regiment smiles as he prepares to let the blood flow for donation at the Illinois Army National Guard's armory in Milan.

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Lt. Col. Lionel Gonzalez and his family smile for a photo during his retirement ceremony at the Illinois Military Academy in Springfield, Illinois, Feb. 22.

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Senior leaders stand alongside Lt. Col. Lionel Gonzalez during his retirement ceremony at Illinois National Guard headquarters in Springfield, Illinois, Feb. 22.

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Staff Sgt. Christopher P. Kelnhofer delivers remarks during his retirement ceremony at the Illinois Military Academy in Springfield, Illinois, Feb. 22, 2026.

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Staff Sgt. Christopher P. Kelnhofer stands at the position of attention during his retirement ceremony at the Illinois Military Academy in Springfield, Illinois, Feb. 22.

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Allies and partners gather for a group photo after the Brave Band 2026 Exercise. The Lithuanian, Polish, Ukrainian Brigade (LITPOLUKRBRIG) conducted Exercise Brave Band 2026 from Jan. 25 to Feb. 6, an annual battle staff training event designed to enhance the brigade headquarters’ ability to plan, synchronize, and execute multinational operations in a complex operational environment.

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