Rochester resident awarded Meritorious Service Medal

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Photo A

SPRINGFIELD, IL (11/02/2018) (readMedia)-- Maj. Joseph Harris, of Rochester, Illinois, was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal during a ceremony on Nov. 1 at Camp Lincoln, Springfield, Illinois.

Harris was nominated for the award by Col. Joseph Schweickert, Chief of Staff, Illinois Army National Guard.

"Major Harris was the most critical individual in the planning for the 33rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team's rotation to the Joint Readiness Training Center. His detailed mission analysis, organization, and knowledge demonstrated the utmost skill of a professional staff officer," said Schweickert.

Maj. Gen. Michael Zerbonia, Assistant Adjutant General-Army, Illinois National Guard, presented the award to Harris during the ceremony. Zerbonia stressed the important role Harris played and the ways that others looked to his leadership and planning throughout the event.

Photo A: Maj. Gen. Michael Zerbonia, Assistant Adjutant General-Army, Illinois Army National Guard, pins the Meritorious Service Medal on Maj. Joseph Harris during a ceremony on Nov. 1, at Camp Lincoln, Springfield, Illinois. Harris was awarded for his work planning the Joint Readiness Training Center rotation for the 33rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team during summer 2018. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Stephen Gifford, Illinois National Guard Public Affairs)

Photo B: Maj. Gen. Michael Zerbonia, Assistant Adjutant General-Army, Illinois Army National Guard, posses with Maj. Joseph Harris during an awards ceremony on Nov. 1, at Camp Lincoln, Springfield, Illinois. Harris was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Stephen Gifford, Illinois National Guard Public Affairs)