‘The Best of our Nation’ — A Busy September for NH National Guard

Thunder over New Hampshire. A security assignment at the airport in Kabul. Helping Afghan refugees in New Jersey. September was a very busy month for New Hampshire National Guard.

Major General David Mikolaities touted the accomplishments of his team starting with over 70,000 visitors to Pease for the air show on September 11, the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks and September 12.

"It was a remarkable feat duly timed to remember the victims and heroes of that tragic day when terrorists struck at the very heart of our democracy," Mikolaities said.

The Guard's Mountain Company was assigned to the security detail at Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul while the last of the U.S. military departed Afghanistan and remains in the Middle East to complete a nine month security mission. Members of Alpha Company, 1/169th Aviation Regiment are also serving in Kosovo.

Back in the U.S. 45 soldiers from the 3643rd Brigade Support Battalion will return home after spending a year supporting the Southwest Border Mission on border in Arizona and California.

11 members airmen continue to help with over 9,000 Afghan refugees who are living at the Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst in New Jersey as part of Operation Allies Refuge.

"Over the past two years, more has been asked of the Guard than at any other time in our nation’s history. We have risen to every challenge, exceeded all expectations and performed above reproach," Mikolaities said. "It truly has been an honor to serve alongside such an outstanding collection of men and women who remain so focused on the greater good. You represent the best of our state and nation."

Contact reporter Dan Alexander at Dan.Alexander@townsquaremedia.com or via Twitter @DanAlexanderNH