The National Guard Association of Tennessee (NGATN) is extremely busy this week making final preparation for their 81st annual State Conference held Feb. 26-28 at the Embassy Suites in Murfreesboro.
According to retired Col. Larry McKnight, executive director of NGATN, registration for the conference has exceeded expectations.
“We thought our numbers would be down since we have over 3,500 soldiers deployed to Iraq from the 278th Armor Cavalry Regiment and the 194th Engineer Brigade Headquarters. Surprisingly, our registration is higher than it was for last year’s conference,” McKnight said.
He credits the increase to the Enlisted Association joining the Officer’s Association for a combined conference.
“It just made sense that we come together at this time with so many soldiers deployed,” McKnight said.
Early registration has been so large that additional rooms were reserved at three other hotels in the Murfreesboro area.
The conference begins Thursday with a golf scramble at the Old Fort Golf Club. The official opening of the conference will be a ribbon cutting ceremony at the Embassy Suites Hotel.
Sixty-five defense contractors from all over the United States have registered and will have exhibits displaying various types of military equipment and supplies. In addition, Barrett Firearms has graciously invited a limited number of association members to tour their facility Friday afternoon.
The expected turnout for the business session Saturday is estimated to be 1,000.
The Association’s Executive Committee, headed by Col. Harry Montgomery, Commander of the 164th Air Lift Wing, has put together an impressive slate of military and elected leaders to speak during the business session.
Among those who will be addressing the members are Gov. Phil Bredesen, Rep. Jim Cooper, Rep. Zack Wamp, Gen. Craig McKinley, Chief of National Guard Bureau; Maj. Gen. James Nuttall, Deputy Commander of 1st Army; Maj. Gen. Max Haston, the Adjutant General of the Tennessee National Guard and Senior Command Chief Christopher Muncy of the National Guard Bureau.
The conference will officially end Saturday evening with a formal banquet and entertainment provided by local songwriters.
Montgomery praised the Embassy Suites and the Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce for supporting this event. “
It has been a major challenge to plan an event of this size in a new location. The support from everyone involved has been tremendous,” he said. |
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