Washington, Ark. To Be the Scene of Historic Statement of Support Ceremony November 7

Zoie Clift, travel writer
Arkansas Tourism

Statements of support (SOS) for the National Guard and Reserve will be signed on November 7 in Washington, Arkansas. The Employer Support of the Guard Reserve (ESGR), an agency of the U.S. Department of Defense, is directing the event.

The signing ceremony will take place at the 1874 Court House at 10:30 a.m. in Historic Washington State Park. Local employers have been invited to sign the SOS for Guard and Reservists who are called away to active duty.

According to Major General (Ret) Don C. Morrow, Arkansas State Chair ESGR, every employer in town is scheduled to sign the document at the event. “We think this is the first time in the country that every employer in a city will sign a SOS at the same event at the same time,” he said.

Eighteen businesses and agencies are scheduled to sign the documents as well as Washington Mayor Paul Henley on behalf of the entire city. Many dignitaries, business leaders and public officials from Hempstead County and Ms. Pauline Brunelli, Executive Director of Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve, Office of the Secretary of Defense, Washington D.C. will also be present.

Along with the ceremony, the Arkansas National Guard's 39th Brigade will be recognized for their service. The brigade’s symbol is the historically famous Bowie knife that was produced for Colonel Jim Bowie during his stop in Washington on his way to the Alamo. The 39th Brigade returned last December from their second tour in Iraq.

“Today, supportive employers are critical to maintaining the strength and readiness of the nation’s National Guard and Reserve units,” said Richard Green, Program Specialist of the Arkansas ESGR Committee. “Each of the agencies and companies joins a cadre of Fortune 500 companies, state and federal agencies and thousands of America’s employers in demonstrating support for our armed forces.”

Along with the SOS ceremony, Historic Washington State Park will also be the scene of another event that day: Civil War Weekend. Included in the weekend will be a Civil War skirmish and cavalry drill. Opportunities to observe civilian, infantry and cavalry encampments, tavern life, medicine shows and period fashion programs will be available throughout the day. One of the largest battle reenactments in Southwest Arkansas will take place at 2 p.m. on Nov. 7 and again at 1 p.m. on Nov. 8 as hundreds of re-enactors meet on the battlefield of Washington.