Airmen of the 115th Fighter Wing serving during public health emergency

Airmen and Soldiers of the WI National Guard getting Wisconsinites home safely

MADISON –Yesterday, Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers signed Executive Order #72 declaring a public health emergency in Wisconsin. Among the health and safety actions outlined in the Executive Order was the mobilization of the Wisconsin National Guard to ensure safe transport home for Wisconsinites who had been stuck on the Grand Princess cruise ship because of the coronavirus outbreak.

“Because of a coronavirus outbreak on the cruise ship they were on, 37 of our friends and neighbors have been stuck away from their friends and families in Wisconsin for over a week,” said Chris Arenz, Executive Director of the Badger Air Community Council. “According to the Governor Evers’ press conference yesterday, those Wisconsinites are being evacuated and upon arrival back in Wisconsin, they will be greeted by Wisconsin Department of Health Services personnel. And then they will be driven back home safely and efficiently by our friends, neighbors and co-workers who serve as Airmen and soldiers with the Wisconsin National Guard.”

Members of the Wisconsin National guard serve dual state and federal missions. In their federal mission they serve to protect our national security and in their state mission they help civil authorities protect life and property and preserve peace, order, and public safety in times of natural or human-caused emergencies.”

On behalf of the members of the Badger Air Community Council and the over 4,500 Together Truax supporters, thank you for once again stepping up to serve our communities and state in this public health emergency.”

This is not the first time recently that members of the 115^th Fighter Wing have, in their state mission, served our community and state in a time of need. Last summer, the 115^th Fighter Wing Fire Emergency Services responded to a City of Madison Fire Department Incident Commander request to assist in extinguishing the substation fire in downtown. Later that same weekend  more than 100 Soldiers and Airmen from the Wisconsin Army and Air National Guard were mobilized to Polk, Barron, and Langlade Counties to assist civil authorities in the aftermath of intense storms that cut a swath of destruction across northern Wisconsin July 20-21. During the recent lake level flooding in Madison, Airmen of the 115th Fighter Wing assisted with sandbagging operations to prevent property and infrastructure damage on the isthmus. They were also mobilized to assist in flood prevention operations to keep Interstate Highway 39 open.

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