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The National Guard Educational Foundation recognized another 13 major donors Saturday evening during a special reception at the National Guard Memorial, the NGAUS headquarters in Washington, D.C.
The honorees represent a combined $150,000 in contributions to the NGEF through its Legion de Lafayette program, which is reserved for gifts of $10,000 or more.
The NGEF preserves and shares all 390 years of the Guard story. Among its programs is the National Guard Memorial Museum, which includes 5,600 square feet of artifacts, images and interactive exhibits.
The foundation also administers the USAA Guardian Scholarship Fund, which provides college scholarships to the children of Guardsmen killed in action since the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
The donors recognized included seven individuals or families and six corporations or organizations. As is often the case, most of the of the individual or family contributors said they were just “giving back.”
“The Guard opened my eyes to a broader world and provided experiences and relationships that have shaped my life in lasting ways,” said retired Minnesota Army Guard Maj. Chris Kiline, who donated with wife, Korrie.
Retired Oregon Army Guard Brig. Gen. Douglas Pritt expressed similar sentiments.
“The opportunities I have been given have far exceeded anything I could have imagined when I first raised my hand to join,” he said.
Retired Maj. Gen. April and retired Brig. Gen. Kurt Vogel had the same motivation.
“Giving back and staying connected isn’t just meaningful to us, it’s our way of honoring what the Guard has given our family,” they said.
April flew C-130 Hercules cargo planes with the Maryland Air Guard and later served as the legislative liaison director at the National Guard Bureau. She is now vice president of government relations for the Military Officers Association of America and the retired/separated-Air representative on the NGAUS board of directors.
She said she met her husband in the Guard. Kurt Vogel spent more than 30 years in the Air Force and Air Guard, much of as a KC-135 Stratotanker pilot. He now works for Delta Airlines.
Pritt, the Klines and the Vogels were all making their first LdL donation.
The other four individual or family contributions were recognized for adding to previous gifts or are associated with existing Legion members.
Retired Maj. Gen. Red and Jane Brown made their third gift in the name of their daughter, retired Lt. Col. Crystal Rolleg, a former medical services officer with the 36th Infantry Division. Brown once commanded the division.
Linda Cooper Ross of Louisiana also added to a previous contribution. Her husband, retired Brig. Gen. Ken Ross, is the longtime NGAUS treasurer and a LdL member. And their daughter, Dixie, a onetime association employee, made her first donation.
In addition, Lisa Thompson and Kimberly Snyder were recognized for their contribution in the name of their parents, retired Michigan Army Guard Brig. Gen. Robert and the late Cindy Taylor. Taylor was NGAUS chairman from 2004-2006. He is an LdL member.
Five corporations were recognized for adding to previous gifts: BAE Systems, General Atomics Aeronautical, New York Life, Shepard Exposition Services and USAA. The National Guard Association of Texas made its first LdL donation.
More information about the LdL program — including a list of more than 300 major donors — is available here.
—By John Goheen
