Tennessee officials commemorate 105th Army Reserve birthday

By Sgt. 1st Class Joel QuebecMay 16, 2013

Tennessee officials commemorate 105th Army Reserve birthday
1 / 16 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Washington County, Tenn. Mayor Dan Eldridge reads a proclamation before the county council commemorating the 105th birthday of the Army Reserve on April 22 in Jonesborough, Tenn. Present were Soldiers of the 702nd Engineer Company out of Gray, Tenn.,... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Tennessee officials commemorate 105th Army Reserve birthday
2 / 16 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Army Reserve Ambassador for Tennessee John Dyess thanks the Mayor of Washington County, Tenn. in Jonesborough for reading a proclamation commemorating the 105th birthday of the Army Reserve and the importance of the warrior citizen. "A good job done ... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Tennessee officials commemorate 105th Army Reserve birthday
3 / 16 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Army Reserve Ambassador for Tennessee John Dyess speaks to the Washington County Council in Jonesborough, Tenn. about the 105th birthday of the Army Reserve and the importance of the warrior citizen. "A good job done by anybody needs to be recognized... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Tennessee officials commemorate 105th Army Reserve birthday
4 / 16 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Madeline Rogero, Mayor of Knoxville, Tennessee, talks with Army Reserve Ambassador for Tennessee John Dyess and Army Reserve Soldiers on the 105th birthday of the Army Reserve. Mayor Rogero presented them with a proclamation commemorating the Army Re... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Tennessee officials commemorate 105th Army Reserve birthday
5 / 16 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Madeline Rogero, Mayor of Knoxville, Tennessee, talks with Army Reserve Ambassador for Tennessee John Dyess and Army Reserve Soldiers on the 105th birthday of the Army Reserve. Mayor Rogero presented them with a proclamation commemorating the Army Re... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Tennessee officials commemorate 105th Army Reserve birthday
6 / 16 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Madeline Rogero, Mayor of Knoxville, Tennessee, shares a light moment with Army Reserve Soldiers on the 105th birthday of the Army Reserve. Mayor Rogero presented them, along with other Soldiers in attendance, with a proclamation commemorating the Ar... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Tennessee officials commemorate 105th Army Reserve birthday
7 / 16 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Madeline Rogero, Mayor of Knoxville, Tennessee, shares a light moment with Army Reserve Soldiers on the 105th birthday of the Army Reserve. Pictured from left to right are, Mayor Rogero, Army Reserve Ambassador for Tennessee John Dyess, 2nd Lt. Micha... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Tennessee officials commemorate 105th Army Reserve birthday
8 / 16 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Madeline Rogero, Mayor of Knoxville, Tennessee, stands with Army Reserve Soldiers on the 105th birthday of the Army Reserve. Pictured from left to right are, Army Reserve Ambassador for Tennessee John Dyess, 2nd Lt. Michael Sweany and Staff Sgt. Amy ... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Tennessee officials commemorate 105th Army Reserve birthday
9 / 16 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Army Reserve Ambassador for Tennessee John Dyess speaks to WBIR in Knoxville about the 105th birthday of the Army Reserve. "A good job done by anybody needs to be recognized, and service to this nation is more important, I think now, than ever," Dyes... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Tennessee officials commemorate 105th Army Reserve birthday
10 / 16 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Tim Burchett, right, the Mayor of Knox County, Tenn., shows a picture of his father as a young Marine taken in the Pacific during WWII to Army Reserve Soldiers in Knoxville on April 23. Sgt. 1st Class Brian Heller of the 489th Civil Affairs battalion... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Tennessee officials commemorate 105th Army Reserve birthday
11 / 16 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Tim Burchett, center, the Mayor of Knox County, Tenn., holds a proclamation to commemorate the 105th birthday of the Army Reserve in Knoxville on April 23. He is joined by several Army Reserve soldiers and Army Reserve Ambassador for Tennessee John D... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Tennessee officials commemorate 105th Army Reserve birthday
12 / 16 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Karl Dean, second from left, the Mayor of Nashville and Davidson county, holds a proclamation to commemorate the 105th birthday of the Army Reserve on April 24. He is joined by Capt. Justin Carmack, left, of the 861st Quartermaster Company and Army ... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Tennessee officials commemorate 105th Army Reserve birthday
13 / 16 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Karl Dean, second from left, the Mayor of Nashville and Davidson county, holds a proclamation to commemorate the 105th birthday of the Army Reserve on April 24. He is joined by Capt. Justin Carmack, left, of the 861st Quartermaster Company and Army ... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Tennessee officials commemorate 105th Army Reserve birthday
14 / 16 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Karl Dean, second from left, the Mayor of Nashville and Davidson county, receives a challenge coin from Army Reserve Ambassador for Tennessee John Dyess, far right, on April 24. Also pictured are Capt. Justin Carmack, far left, of the 861st Quarterma... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Tennessee officials commemorate 105th Army Reserve birthday
15 / 16 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Karl Dean, second from left, the Mayor of Nashville and Davidson county, holds a proclamation to commemorate the 105th birthday of the Army Reserve on April 24. He is joined by Col. Robert Haste, commander of the 38th Regional Support Group of Charl... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Tennessee officials commemorate 105th Army Reserve birthday
16 / 16 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Karl Dean, center, the Mayor of Nashville and Davidson county, receives a challenge coin from Col. Robert Haste, commander of the 38th Regional Support Group of Charleston, W.V. on April 24. Col. Haste and other Army Reserve Soldiers were in Dean's o... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

TENNESSEE - For 105 years the United States Army Reserve has been on standby to protect our country. In recent years the Reserve has proven itself as a relevant and ready force, without which the various global missions could not be accomplished.

During the week of the Army Reserve's 105th birthday, Tennessee officials recognized the USAR and its Soldiers with proclamations honoring the anniversary with appreciation and promises of continued support.

"Today's Army Reserve is no longer a strategic, supplemental force," said Nashville and Davidson County Mayor Karl F. Dean in a proclamation in his office. "Rather, since 9-11, it has been a crucial element of the Army's overall deployable strength."

"The role of the Army Reserve has changed over time," said Tenn. Gov. Bill Haslam, "moving from a strategic reserve to an operational force, keeping the Army mobile and enabling the Army to do more with constrained resources."

In Knoxville, Mayors Madeline Rogero, Knoxville, and Tim Burchett, Knox County, both honored past and present Reserve Soldiers for what they do to help the country. They met with Soldiers from local units and thanked them personally for their service.

As in 1908, when the most up-to-date medical experience resided in the civilian sector, the skills a Reservist brings to the mission are a force-multiplier that has been recognized and heralded by the most senior of leadership.

"The Army Reserve's Warrior Citizens live and work in communities across Tennessee and the country," said Washington County Mayor Dan Eldridge. "These Soldiers are teachers, coaches, police officers, community leaders, students, doctors, nurses and lawyers who bring their civilians skills to the total Army."

Eldridge read his proclamation in front of the county commission with Soldiers present. "More importantly," Eldridge added, "these Army Reserve Soldiers are our neighbors and friends, dedicated to our national security."

The Tennessee State House of Representatives even drafted House Joint Resolution No. 300 to commemorate the Army Reserve and "honor its tradition of commitment, dedication and service to America."

"A good job done by anybody needs to be recognized and service to this nation is more important, I think now, than ever," said John Dyess, Army Reserve Ambassador for Tennessee to WBIR Channel 10. "And these people who willingly put on this nation's uniform and go in harm's way for me, my family, yours and our way of life deserve our faith."

The Army Reserve originally started as the Medical Reserve Corps in 1908, but became an active military branch after World War I. The mission of the U.S. Army Reserve is to provide trained, equipped and ready Soldiers but also to help with aid after natural disasters and with civil support and over 20 percent of the Army's assets lie within the Reserve.

Today, more than 205,000 Americans are Soldiers in the Army Reserve and stand ready for combat when called upon.