Thank you, General Spears

South Carolina Adjutant General Stan Spears announced recently that he will not seek re-election this year. In January of 2011, General Spears will step down after sixteen years of service as the only elected National Guard Adjutant General in the United States.

While there is considerable debate as to whether the Adjutant General should be elected, no appointee could have served as honorably and as ably as General Spears. Since his taking office in January of 1995, South Carolina has dealt with terrorism, base closures and a complete transformation of the role of its National Guard. Through that relatively tumultuous era, General Spears has led the South Carolina National Guard effectively and served the state of South Carolina with distinction. South Carolina could not ask for a better man to be in command of its National Guard.

Indeed, since 1959, General Spears has answered the call to serve the South Carolina National Guard. As General Spears winds down his time as South Carolina's Adjutant General, South Carolina needs to pause to honor and thank the man.

For our part, VUI thanks you General Spears for a lifetime of service to this state and for a job well done.