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U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Reginald Cobb, Georgia Army National Guard, retired during a joint retirement ceremony held at the Clay National Guard Center, Marietta, Ga., on December 12, 2020 after 20 years of service. U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. Konata Crumbly, presiding officer of the ceremony, presented Cobb the Meritorious Service Medal in recognition of his 20 years of service to the organization. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Amy King)
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U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Linda Williams, Georgia Army National Guard, retired during a joint retirement ceremony held at the Clay National Guard Center, Marietta, Ga., on December 12, 2020. U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. Konata Crumbly, presiding officer of the ceremony, presented Williams the Meritorious Service Medal for her service to the organization.
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U.S. Army Capt. Michael Lewis, Georgia Army National Guard, retired after 20 years of service during a joint retirement ceremony held at the Clay National Guard Center, Marietta, Ga., on December 12, 2020. U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. Konata Crumbly, presiding officer of the ceremony, presented Lewis’s spouse the Georgia Commendation Medal for her support of the organization.
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U.S. Army Capt. Christopher Dryden (second from left), Georgia Army National Guard, retired during a joint retirement ceremony held at the Clay National Guard Center, Marietta, Ga., on December 12, 2020. U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. Konata Crumbly (far left), presiding officer of the ceremony, presented Dryden the Meritorious Service Medal in recognition of his 24 years of service to the organization.
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U.S. Army Sgt. Steven Dillard (second from left), Georgia Army National Guard, retired during a joint retirement ceremony held at the Clay National Guard Center, Marietta, Ga., on December 12, 2020. Dillard served for 24 years, a decade of which was in active duty, and was presented a Meritorious Service Medal for his dedication to the organization. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Amy King)
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U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Linda Williams (second from left), Georgia Army National Guard, dedicated 22 years of service to the organization and retired during a joint retirement ceremony held at the Clay National Guard Center, Marietta, Ga., on December 12, 2020. Williams, who served as the noncommissioned officer in charge of human resources at Joint Force Headquarters, was presented the Meritorious Service Medal in recognition of her service.
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Army Sgt. Steven Dillard, Georgia Army National Guard, retired during a joint retirement ceremony held at the Clay National Guard Center, Marietta, Ga., on December 12, 2020. U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. Konata Crumbly, presiding officer of the ceremony, presented Dillard the American flag for his support of the organization.
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U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Reginald Cobb, Georgia Army National Guard, retired during a joint retirement ceremony held at the Clay National Guard Center, Marietta, Ga., on December 12, 2020 after 20 years of service. U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. Konata Crumbly, presiding officer of the ceremony, presented Cobb the American flag for his support of the organization.
By Capt. Bryant Wine / Published Dec. 12, 2020
CLAY NATIONAL GUARD CENTER, Marietta, Ga.,
The Georgia National Guard honored five retirees during a retirement ceremony, Dec. 12, 2020, at Clay National Guard Center in Marietta, Georgia. U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. Konata Crumbly, director of the joint staff, presided over the event.
The Georgia National Guard presented the retirement ceremony virtually on Facebook Live in order to mitigate the spread of COVID-19.
“It is always great to celebrate American heroes,” said Crumbly. “That’s what you have with these five individuals here.”
The five retirees honored at the ceremony include: U.S. Army Capt. Christopher Dryden, Capt. Michael Lewis, Sergeant 1st Class Linda Williams, Staff Sgt. Reginald Cobb and Sgt. Steven Dillard.
All five honorees each retire with at least 20 years of service. In recognition of their service, all five retirees received an award, certificate of retirement and an American flag. Spouses of the retirees also received the Georgia Commendation Medal in recognition of their loyalty to their spouse.
Traditionally held quarterly, the coronavirus pandemic response effort took priority to the Georgia National Guard and delayed the ceremony throughout 2020. In keeping with mitigation and safety guidelines, the Georgia National Guard did not want to host large gathering comprised of populations most vulnerable to the disease.
However, the Georgia National Guard adapted to the COVID-19 risk by instilling new preventative safety measures and utilizing new technologies, like Facebook Live. The social media platform enabled the Georgia National Guard to host a small gathering of retirees and their immediate families while spectators view virtually in the confines of their homes and workspaces.
People remain a key strategic priority to the Georgia National Guard and to Maj. Gen. Thomas Carden, The Adjutant General of Georgia. Soldiers, Airmen, civilian workers, Family, retirees and veterans are the most important element of the Georgia National Guard. Growing, developing and retaining the force remained key objectives to Carden and the Georgia National Guard, even during the organization’s monumental response to COVID-19.
The virtual joint retirement ceremony is one of many ways for the Georgia National Guard to safely recognize and honor its people. Measures such as mask wearing, physical distancing and projecting the ceremony virtually ensured the safety of participants and viewers alike. Recognizing the five Soldiers allows the Georgia National Guard to honor these people as they transition from service member to retiree.
“This is an awesome occasion,” said Crumbly. “I have the privilege to honor America’s warriors and people that have served our country.”
