Today, Brigadier General James H. Trogdon, III present Congressman Patrick McHenry (R-NC-10) with the National Guard’s Charles Dick Medal of Merit at an award ceremony in Shelby.

“I accept this award on behalf of the men and women of Western North Carolina who put themselves in harm’s way to defend America,” said Congressman McHenry. “What I do in Congress pales in comparison to the valor and sacrifice of our soldiers and their families, and I want to take this opportunity to honor them for their dedication to keeping America safe.”

The Charles Dick Medal of Merit was established in 1988 and is designed to recognize contributions to the National Guard by elected officials at the state and national levels.

To receive the Award, an individual must have distinguished himself as an ardent supporter the National Guard. The award is not given just for exceptional performance of normal duties. The support of the individual must have a lasting effect on the future of the National Guard. The positive effect and results of the act should outlast the individual’s tenure in office.

According to the North Carolina National Guard, “Representative McHenry has been and continues to be a dedicated supporter of the North Carolina National Guard and advocate for the National Guard of the United States.”

“Representative McHenry’s contributions to the National Guard have significantly benefited the North Carolina National Guard and will have a lasting effect on the future of the National Guard of the United States long after his tenure as United States Representative for the 10th District of North Carolina.”

The medal is named in honor of Major General Charles Dick, President of the National Guard Association of the United States from 1902 to 1909, a Major General in the Ohio National Guard, a Congressman and later a Senator. Dick was responsible for the passage of the Dick Acts of 1903 and 1908 that established the foundation of the modern National Guard.

A graduate of the elite Army War College, Brigadier General Trogdon is a 26 year veteran of the National Guard.

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