Hundreds gather to honor outgoing Illinois National Guard Adjutant General

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SPRINGFIELD, IL (08/11/2015)(readMedia)-- Maj. Gen. Daniel Krumrei (ret.), of Springfield, Illinois. recently spent an evening surrounded by hundreds of friends, family, and fellow Servicemembers as they celebrated his military career, which spanned more than 38 years.

The hail-and-farewell ceremony, held August 8 in Springfield, Illinois., marked the departure of Krumrei as the Illinois National Guard's Adjutant General, the state's top uniformed military commander, following his July 4 retirement. Krumrei, who spent the majority of his career as a chaplain, is the only chaplain to ever be selected to serve as a state's adjutant general.

Krumrei shared with those gathered a few of the things he will miss about military service.

"I'm going to miss the camaraderie, the friendships, the shared work and the competition and the successes of all of you," Krumrei said.

He also spoke to the many military leaders in the room about their role in shaping the lives and careers of young Servicemembers and defending the nation's freedom.

"The future is in the hands of the people in this room," he said. "It's in the hands of the people you train and who you care for, who you lift up and make better. The future of the state, of the National Guard and of the nation is out of my hands and has been delivered fully into yours."

Among those honoring Krumrei was Chief of the National Guard Bureu, U.S. Army Gen. Frank J. Grass, a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, commanding both the Army and Air National Guard forces of every U.S. state and territory.

Grass said the many different types of military units Krumrei served as a chaplain throughout his career gave him the understanding and broad knowledge base needed to lead a military organization the size of a state. He said he was sure people who led Krumrei could see that potential from the beginning.

"I'm sure that all of his leadership back then realized what they had," Grass said. "They had a chaplain who wasn't just a chaplain. They had someone who realized what it was like to come up through the ranks. He knew it was transitioning from a strategic reserve to an operational National Guard, taking care of men and women either on the battlefield or back at home."

During the ceremony Grass also presented Krumrei with a Distinguished Service Medal, a national award reserved for Servicemembers who perform exceptionally well in rolls of great responsibility.

An official ceremony was held in Chatham, Ill. on August 9 transferring command of the Illinois National Guard from Krumrei to Brig. Gen. Richard J. Hayes, of Chatham.

Cutline 1: Brig. Gen. Richard J. Hayes, of Chatham, Illinois, the Adjutant General of the Illinois National Guard, addresses attendees at a hail-and-farewell ceremony held in Springfield, Illinois. August 8, where family, friends and Servicemembers celebrated the career of the outgoing Adjutant General, Maj. Gen. Daniel M. Krumrei (ret.), of Springfield, Illinois. Krumrei retired July 4 after more than 38 years of military service and became the state's 38th adjutant general in December, 2012.

Cutline 2: U.S. Army Gen. Frank. J. Grass (left), Chief of the National Guard Bureau, presents Maj. Gen. Daniel Krumrei (ret.), of Springfield, Illinois, with a token of appreciation during a hail-and-farewell ceremony held on Krumrei's behalf in Springfield, Illinois, August 8. Krumrei is the former Adjutant General of the Illinois National Guard who retired July 4 after more than 38 years of military service.

Cutline 3: U.S. Army Gen. Frank. J. Grass (left), Chief of the National Guard Bureau, presents Maj. Gen. Daniel Krumrei (ret.), of Springfield, Illinois, with the Distinguished Service Medal for his service as the Illinois National Guard's Adjutant General, while Brig. Gen. Richard J. Hayes, of Chatham, Illinios, the incoming Adjutant General, watches. The award was presented during a hail-and-farewell ceremony held for Krumrei August 8 in Springfield, Illinios. Krumrei retired July 4 after more than 38 years of military service and became the state's 38th Adjutant General in December, 2012.

Cutline 4: Maj. Gen. Daniel Krumrei (ret.), of Springfield, Illinois, former Adjutant General for the Illinois National Guard, addresses attendees at a hail-and-farewell ceremony, held in Springfield, Illinois August 8, where family, friends and Servicemembers celebrated his career. Krumrei retired July 4 after more than 38 years of military service and became the state's Adjutant General in December, 2012.