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[caption id="attachment_3493" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Lt. Col. Shontelle C. Adams, commander of the 198th Military Police Battalion, presents Kyle Taylor with an Honorary Kentucky Guardsman award at the Cincinnati Children's Hospital Oct. 9."]
By Lt. Col. Shontelle C. Adams, 198th Military Police Battalion, photos by Vanessa Parsons, 617th Military Police Company Family Readiness Group Leader
CINCINNATI, Oh. (October 15, 2010)--Several members of the Kentucky National Guard’s 198
th Military Police Battalion, based out of Louisville, Ky., helped a dream come true by making a young boy an Honorary Guardsman Oct. 9 at the Cincinnati Children’s Hospital.
Kyle Taylor, 12, is going through his 3rd bout with leukemia and is the first cousin of Sgt. Matthew Whisman, a former member of the 617
th MP Co. Several members of Taylor’s Family were present including his mother, father, aunt, uncle, and Whisman and his wife.
During the visit Taylor was made an Honorary Kentucky Guardsman and presented a Kentucky Colonel plaque on behalf of Gov. Steve Beshear and the Adjutant General of Kentucky Maj. Gen. Edward W. Tonini. Other coins given to him were from Brig. Gen. Mike Richie, Brig. Gen. Lonnie Culver, Chief Warrant Officer Delynn Gibson, State Command Sgt. Maj. Gregory Armstrong, and Chief Command Master Sgt. James Smith just to name few.
[caption id="attachment_3494" align="alignright" width="300" caption="Friends, Family members and Soldiers from the 198th Military Police Battalion sit with Kyle Taylor after making him an Honorary Kentucky Guardsman at the Cincinnati Children's Hospital Oct. 9."]
In addition to the plaque and coins, the troops presented Taylor with a flag the 198
th MP BN flew while deployed to Afghanistan from 2006 to 2007. Members from recruiting provided several National Guard items such as backpacks, t-shirts and miniature NASCARs. The 617
th MP Co. Family Readiness Group, lead by Vanessa Parsons, provided a uniform for Taylor which the Guardsmen filled with rank, unit and combat patches to ensure his uniform was complete and ready to wear.
Taylor said he has aspirations of being a Soldier one day and is very into learning and reading about the military.
Not only did the visit from the Soldier’s bring a smile to Taylor’s face, but it brightened the Guardsmen’s day as well, with several saying it was a very humbling experience.