Brig. Gen. Lenny William speaks during the American Gold Star Families’ Fallen Heroes Tree of Honor Tree Lighting Ceremony.
251117-A-OH563-5540.JPG Photo By: Lt. Col. Bradford Leighton

Bloomington, Ill. - Brig. Gen. Lenny Williams, the Assistant Adjutant General – Army of the Illinois National Guard and the Commander of the Illinois Army National Guard, speaks during the American Gold Star Families’ Fallen Heroes Tree of Honor Tree Lighting Ceremony on Monday, Nov. 17, at Central Illinois Regional Airport in Bloomington, Ill. “I am here today proudly representing my organization, the U.S. Army, our nation, this uniform and all that it stands for, and the oath that we all took to support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies. My support to this event this evening and other events like it, is more than just my duty as an Army officer – it is personal,” Williams said. “You see, for me personally, September 17, October 27, and February 24 will always be etched in my mind. As a company commander in Afghanistan, those are the days we lost four incredible Soldiers from our unit. Each year those are days of reflection for the amazing Soldiers that we lost, and of the incredible Gold Star Families that they came from. The memories of the fallen pop into our minds all the time. When it happens, we take a few moments to savor that memory. Often we quietly keep it to ourselves and continue with our day. Events like this evening are our chance to share our memories of these incredible warriors who gave their lives in defense of our nation. And this evening is our chance to remind our Gold Star Families that we are always here for them…as we promised, and as President Abraham Lincoln ordered us to when he said, ‘care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow and his orphan.’ Our mission to remember the fallen and to support their families never ends, and we will never forget!”


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