December 30, 2005: Headlines: Figures: COS - Tunisia: Politics: State Government: Military: Christmas: The Capital Times: With so many men and women from Wisconsin now serving overseas in the military, Gov. Jim Doyle says the holidays have taken on a deeper meaning for him
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December 30, 2005: Headlines: Figures: COS - Tunisia: Politics: State Government: Military: Christmas: The Capital Times: With so many men and women from Wisconsin now serving overseas in the military, Gov. Jim Doyle says the holidays have taken on a deeper meaning for him
With so many men and women from Wisconsin now serving overseas in the military, Gov. Jim Doyle says the holidays have taken on a deeper meaning for him
Doyle, who is not a veteran, has sought little public attention for his efforts to help support military families, including during his attendance at military funerals. "That's the most impressive thing about it," said Lt. Col. Tim Donovan, director of public affairs for the Wisconsin National Guard. "Most people aren't even aware that he's there, except for the families. He's not there to be noticed, but to give his personal support to these wonderful families." Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle and his wife served as Peace Corps Volunteers in Tunisia in the 1960's.
With so many men and women from Wisconsin now serving overseas in the military, Gov. Jim Doyle says the holidays have taken on a deeper meaning for him
The soldiers' governor
Doyle has attended 43 of 52 military funerals
By David Callender
December 30, 2005
Gov. Jim Doyle shares a field meal with a Wisconsin Guardsman training for urban warfare at Fort McCoy in June 2004.
Gov. Jim Doyle shares a field meal with a Wisconsin Guardsman training for urban warfare at Fort McCoy in June 2004. (Photo by Kirk Wagner/Associated Press)
With so many men and women from Wisconsin now serving overseas in the military, Gov. Jim Doyle says the holidays have taken on a deeper meaning for him.
Doyle, who has attended 43 of the 52 funerals for Wisconsin servicemen and women killed in Iraq and Afghanistan, said in recent weeks he and his wife Jessica have tried to reconcile the joyousness of the holiday season with the loss of young lives.
"I know that for me, Jessica and for my family, that we intend to celebrate the lives of these men and women, particularly those who have been killed or badly injured, as well as to remember the men and women who are serving in dangerous parts of the world," Doyle said in an interview.
"It isn't the kind of celebration where you are lighting off fireworks and laughing and toasting. It's a deeper celebration of their lives and the sacrifice of their lives," he said.
Doyle, who is not a veteran, has sought little public attention for his efforts to help support military families, including during his attendance at military funerals.
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"That's the most impressive thing about it," said Lt. Col. Tim Donovan, director of public affairs for the Wisconsin National Guard.
"Most people aren't even aware that he's there, except for the families. He's not there to be noticed, but to give his personal support to these wonderful families."
Donovan, a veteran of more than 30 years' service in the National Guard, added that after talking with his counterparts in other states, Doyle appears to be unique in his commitment.
Some governors haven't gone to any funerals, while others have attended only services for members of their states' National Guard units.
"But Gov. Doyle makes no distinction between the Guard, the Reserve, or active duty," Donovan said. "I don't think any other governor has done that."
Doyle said that he believes it's important to recognize the sacrifices of all those who serve, especially those who pay with their lives.
"I certainly believe that I, as governor, and everybody in the state owe them a debt," he said.
And that, he said, should apply regardless of one's political position on the war.
Although Doyle has had to miss nine funerals, Lt. Gov. Barbara Lawton has gone in his place to every one of them, Donovan said.
Both the governor and lieutenant governor have been at many of the send-offs and homecomings for Wisconsin troops, and in a few cases, Doyle met some of the soldiers whose funerals he later attended.
Doyle said that as he has come to know the families, "it's been an incredible inspiration to me to watch them reach out to one another in their grief, to see them laugh and exchange jokes with one another in the midst of these terribly difficult times."
The experience has also helped Doyle put his own struggles in perspective.
"I know I have a job that's kind of like being coach of the Green Bay Packers, where everybody's got an idea of how I can do it better," he said.
"Then I think about these families and what they're going through and how they're responding with such incredible grace.
"For the things I care so deeply about - making sure that our children are well-educated, making sure that the quality of life in Wisconsin is second to none - I can go through the little hassles that I have."
E-mail: dcallender@madison.com
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Story Source: The Capital Times
This story has been posted in the following forums: : Headlines; Figures; COS - Tunisia; Politics; State Government; Military; Christmas
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