Fourteen lawmakers and legislative staff called into military service received NCSL's Medal of Civic Honor at the Strong States, Strong Nation Annual Meeting in Seattle in August.

Fourteen lawmakers and legislative staff called into military service received NCSL's Medal of Civic Honor at the Strong States, Strong Nation Annual Meeting in Seattle in August. "We pay tribute to men and women whose service strengthens our nation twice," said former NCSL President John Hurson. "These lawmakers/soldiers craft innovative policies in state legislatures, and also defend our freedom overseas. For their statesmanship and their bravery, we are deeply grateful." Indiana Representative and Marine Corps Reserve Lieutenant Colonel Scott Reske accepted the award on behalf of recipients who could not attend the ceremony. The recipients are: Arizona Representative Jonathan L. Paton, 2nd lieutenant in the Army Reserve; California Assemblyman and Army Reserve Colonel Thomas J. Umberg; Charles Larson Jr., Iowa senator and Army Reserve major; Maryland House Majority Whip and Army Reserve Lieutenant Colonel Anthony G. Brown; Representative James G. Avery Jr., Missouri representative and combat engineer, Missouri National Guard; Ohio Senator Steve Stivers, lieutenant colonel, Army National Guard. And Derek L. Hammond, Pennsylvania Senate security guard and Army Reserve lieutenant; Derrick Wulff, Washington Senate supply clerk and sergeant, Washington National Guard; Clifford Michael Wagner, chief of staff for California Assemblyman Rick Keen and captain in the Army Reserve; Brent Miyagi, information resource specialist, Hawaii House clerk's office and sergeant (combat medic), Hawaii National Guard; Tim Coonan, Iowa legislative research analyst, captain, Army Reserve; Dirk Thibodeaux, Louisiana staff attorney and captain in the Army National Guard; and Steven Grady, New Hampshire audit manager and Army Reserve major.