Roundup Record Tribune & Winnett Times -

The Enlisted Association of the National Guard of Montana (EANGMT) is pleased to announce that they have approved a $1,000 contribution to the effort to establish a statue of Governor Martz in Montana’s Capitol. Gov. Martz was present every time Montana’s soldiers deployed to protect our Country and our Freedom.

Joe Morstein, the Governor’s brother and spokesperson for the family and the Statue group said, “We are thrilled that the Enlisted Association gave us such a generous contribution. Judy truly loved our Soldiers and Airmen and would be so honored by their contribution.”

The motion for the Executive Board to support this worthy cause was made by EANGMT Army National Guard Executive Member, Jerome Richard, a Soldier who deployed during Governor Martz’s tenure as the Commander in Chief of the Montana National Guard. Guardsman Richard stated in his motion, “This is a deeply personal issue for me. When we were mobilizing to go to Iraq in 2004, Governor Martz did her best to shake the hand of all the soldiers before we left. She came down to Fort Bliss before we got on the plane to head to our final training and thanked us. She also took time to take individual pictures with us. That picture of me and Montana’s Commander in Chief is still hanging in my house.”

Dennis Stoner, President of EANGMT, commented; ”The enlisted members of Montana's National Guard had the respect of Governor Judy Martz. She truly supported those who answered the Nation's call after September 11th, 2001, in every possible way. The Enlisted Association of the National Guard of Montana proudly supports the effort of the Governor Judy Martz Statue fund.”

The 2019 Legislature overwhelmingly passed SB 275 that expedites placement of the Statue on the Capitol grounds. SB,275 provides a four-year period to fund, build and place the statute. All funding including an endowed maintenance fund must be done with private funding as required by law. Efforts are in process to secure adequate funding.

The Gov. Martz Statue Group expresses its sincere thanks to Montana’s Enlisted National Guard members. For additional information please visit http://www.govmartzstatue.org