Sisolak thanks National Guard for work during COVID response

 

Gov. Steve Sisolak on Friday expressed his appreciation for the members of the Nevada National Guard for their efforts during the state’s COVID-19 response, considered the longest activation its in history, at the Office of the Adjutant General complex in Carson City.

Sisolak and Adjutant Gen. Ondra Berry, the top official of the Guard, provided a few brief words recapping some of their deployments in recent months.

Berry said in the midst of their deployments, whether it’s on some of the their safety, unity and integrity, the Guard “sets the tone of what the nation can look like in terms of how to get along and how to work together and how to be a best practice.”

“They’re getting it done on a regular basis,” Berry said. “…I say this on a regular basis, and I’ll say it now, there’s nothing I’d rather be doing at this point in my life than serving you. Coming into this door, I say servant leadership is what it has to be all about.”

Sisolak said service members don’t fully grasp the impact of the uniforms they wear.

“When people see you, whether it’s on a plane, it’s in an airport, it’s in a store, it’s in a setting, that gives people a sense of security, a sense of relief, a sense of confidence,” he said. “They don’t know you as an individual. They know you because of the uniform that you wear and the service that you provide.”

He also discussed the sales tax holiday signed into law during the last legislative session as another gesture of his appreciation this weekend in which National Guard members who are on active duty or are residents of the state can receive an exemption from the tax through Sunday. The application period for the holiday has expired, but Sisolak said for those who did apply for it can use it for purchases as small as microwaves or as large as a vehicle if they choose.

“It’s just the state’s way of saying thanks,” Sisolak said. “It’s not enough.”
Members have been the best partners for their service through the pandemic, he told reporters after the event.
“They’ve been there every step of the way, helping with traffic, delivering PPE (personal protective equipment), helping with testing through vaccines, cleaning our nursing homes, fighting a fire,” Sisolak said. “They have been there and providing service, that is just unquestionable, and I can’t begin to thank them enough.”