Pawnee resident awarded Military Medial of Merit

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Photo A

SPRINGFIELD, IL (11/02/2018) (readMedia)-- Lt. Col. Sean Welker, of Pawnee, Illinois, was awarded the Military Medal of Merit during a ceremony on Nov. 1 at Camp Lincoln, Springfield, Illinois.

Welker was nominated for the award by Maj. Gen. Richard J. Hayes, The Adjutant General of the Illinois National Guard.

"Lieutenant Colonel Welker's ability to multi-task and his willingness to take on additional duties outside his scope of work to ensure mission success is unequaled among his peers. His performance is in keeping with the finest traditions of the military and reflect great credit upon him and the Illinois National Guard," said Hayes.

Maj. Gen. Michael Zerbonia, Assistant Adjutant General-Army, Illinois National Guard, presented the award to Welker during the ceremony. Zerbonia highlighted Welker's hard work during his nearly three year tenure in the Chief of Staff's office of Joint Force Headquarters in Springfield. Zerbonia also took time to remark on the challenges ahead of Welker as he leaves the Chief of Staff for new roles within the Illinois National Guard.

Photo A: Maj. Gen. Michael Zerbonia, Assistant Adjutant General-Army, Illinois National Guard, pins the Military Medal of Merit on Lt. Col. Sean Welker during an awards ceremony Nov. 1 at Camp Lincoln, Springfield, Illinois. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Stephen Gifford, Illinois National Guard Public Affairs)

Photo B: Maj. Gen. Michael Zerbonia, Assistant Adjutant General-Army, Illinois National Guard, posses with Lt. Col. Sean Welker during an awards ceremony Nov. 1 at Camp Lincoln, Springfield, Illinois. Welker was awarded the Military Medal of Merit. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Stephen Gifford, Illinois National Guard Public Affairs)