GARDEN CITY—State Sen. Jack Hill (R-Reidsville) was presented the National Guard Association of the United States (NAGAUS) Charles Dick Medal of Merit by Maj. Gen. William T. Nesbitt, Georgia’s Adjutant General, during a ceremony at the Georgia Air Guard’s Savannah Combat Readiness Training Center.

 

Hill, who is chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, spent 33 years as an officer and unit commander with the Air Guard. According to the citation, he spearheaded the funding for several Guard efforts over the years, most notably the renovation of Guard armories across the state, and he was instrumental in the establishment of the National Guard Youth ChalleNGe program here in Georgia. 

 

“It isn’t just me who is deserving of this award,” Hill said. “When you see the success the Army and Air Guard have had in this state over the years,

it didn’t just happen by accident. It happens every day because of the hard work of the men and women — military and civilian — who make up the Georgia Department of Defense.” 

 

Nesbitt said Hill is indicative of the kind of leadership - locally and nationally - that, over the years, continues to recognize the importance of the National Guard’s role in homeland operations and in carrying out the warfight alongside its active duty counterparts.

 

“Many like Sen. Hill have been — or are — citizen-soldiers, and know first-hand the great work the Guard does, and continues to do,” Nesbitt said.

 

“It’s because of his exceptional support and his forward-thinking that we gratefully bestow on him this prestigious award.”

 

Established in 1988, the Charles Dick Medal of Merit recognizes contributions to the National Guard by elected officials at the state and national level. 

 

The Medal of Merit is named for Maj. Gen. Charles Dick, NAGAUS president from 1902-09. Dick also commanded the Ohio National Guard while also serving as a U.S. senator. He is responsible for passage of the Dick acts of 1903 (which replaced the old Militia Act of 1792) and 1908. The 1903 and 1908 acts established the foundation of the modern National Guard.