Louisiana National Guard honors COVID response team

By Staff Sgt. Josiah Pugh, Louisiana National GuardDecember 7, 2021

Louisiana National Guard honors COVID response team
1 / 7 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Louisiana National Guard Task Force COVID commander and Assistant Adjutant General -Army, Brig. Gen. Cindy H. Haygood gives awards to members of Task Force COVID at Jackson Barracks in New Orleans, Dec. 3, 2021. The ceremony was one of a series of ceremonies across the state to honor more than 850 of LANG service members, recognizing their efforts in assisting the citizens of Louisiana during COVID-19 recovery operations. (Photo Credit: Sgt. Anna Churco) VIEW ORIGINAL
Louisiana National Guard honors COVID response team
2 / 7 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Louisiana National Guard Task Force COVID commander and Assistant Adjutant General - Army, Brig. Gen. Cindy H. Haygood, and 61st Troop Commander, Col. Eric Slaven, give awards to members of Task Force COVID at the First Baptist Church, Denham Springs, Louisiana, Dec. 1, 2021. The ceremony was one of a series of ceremonies across the state to honor more than 850 of LANG service members, recognizing their efforts in assisting the citizens of Louisiana during COVID-19 recovery operations. (Photo Credit: Spc. Duncan Foote) VIEW ORIGINAL
Louisiana National Guard honors COVID response team
3 / 7 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Louisiana National Guard members of Task Force COVID attend a ceremony at the First Baptist Church, Denham Springs, Louisiana, on Dec. 1, 2021. The ceremony was one of a series of ceremonies across the state to honor more than 850 LANG service members, recognizing their efforts in assisting the citizens of Louisiana during COVID-19 recovery operations. (Photo Credit: Spc. Duncan Foote) VIEW ORIGINAL
Louisiana National Guard honors COVID response team
4 / 7 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Louisiana National Guard members of Task Force COVID attend a ceremony at the Holiday Inn in Alexandria, Louisiana, on Nov. 30, 2021. The ceremony was one of a series of ceremonies across the state to honor more than 850 LANG service members, recognizing their efforts in assisting the citizens of Louisiana during COVID-19 recovery operations. (Photo Credit: Warrant Officer Thea James) VIEW ORIGINAL
Louisiana National Guard honors COVID response team
5 / 7 Show Caption + Hide Caption – The Adjutant General of Louisiana, Maj. Gen. D. Keith Waddell, thanks members of Task Force COVID at the Holiday Inn in Alexandria, Louisiana, Nov. 30, 2021. The ceremony was one of a series of ceremonies across the state to honor more than 850 LANG service members, recognizing their efforts in assisting the citizens of Louisiana during COVID-19 recovery operations. (Photo Credit: Warrant Officer Thea James) VIEW ORIGINAL
Louisiana National Guard honors COVID response team
6 / 7 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Awards waiting to be handed out to Louisiana National Guard Task Force COVID members during a ceremony at the State Aviation Command in Hammond, Louisiana Dec. 2, 2021. The ceremony was one of a series of ceremonies across the state to honor more than 850 LANG service members, recognizing their efforts in assisting the citizens of Louisiana during COVID-19 recovery operations. (Photo Credit: Master Sgt. Toby Valadie) VIEW ORIGINAL
Louisiana National Guard honors COVID response team
7 / 7 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Louisiana National Guard Task Force COVID commander and Assistant Adjutant General (Army), Brig. Gen. Cindy H. Haygood, and 61st Troop Commander, Col. Eric Slaven, give awards to members of Task Force COVID during a ceremony at the State Aviation Command in Hammond, Louisiana Dec. 2, 2021. The ceremony was one of a series of ceremonies across the state to honor more than 850 LANG service members, recognizing their efforts in assisting the citizens of Louisiana during COVID-19 recovery operations. (Photo Credit: Master Sgt. Toby Valadie) VIEW ORIGINAL

NEW ORLEANS – The Louisiana National Guard held ceremonies across the state to honor more than 800 of its service members for assisting Louisiana citizens during COVID-19 recovery operations.

Ceremonies were held Nov. 30 to Dec. 3 in Alexandria, Denham Springs, Hammond and New Orleans for the members of Task Force COVID, some of whom have spent nearly two years on orders, helping people throughout the pandemic.

Service members have packaged 40.7 million pounds of food, transported 61.8 million pieces of personal protective equipment and more than 94,000 vials of vaccine, administered more than 492,000 COVID tests and provided more than 179,000 vaccine doses.

“When we first began this mission,” said Brig. Gen. Cindy H. Haygood, Task Force COVID commander and assistant adjutant general - Army, “I would never have imagined that we would still be here supporting this mission 20 months later. But with four surges during this pandemic and, now, a new variant looming out there, we are still providing necessary support to the entire state.”

Soldiers and Airmen received varying awards, including the Meritorious Service Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, the Army Achievement Medal, the Armed Forces Service Medal, the Louisiana Legion of Merit, the Louisiana Cross of Merit and the Louisiana Emergency Service Ribbon.

“I am so proud to be your teammate and to get to serve with you each and every day,” said Maj. Gen. Keith Waddell, the adjutant general of the LANG. “To see what you do for our citizens makes me beam with pride … so, thank you.”

Task Force COVID continues to provide daily support across the state, operating as many as 35 testing sites, 25 vaccine sites, and seven food banks.

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