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Samantha Hayes Reporting Every year hundreds of National Guard members gather together. This time the conference is in Salt Lake City, where in just over a week President George Bush will be speaking.
Today President Bush spoke from Washington in a morning press conference. He says the war has created challenging times for America, and especially for the many volunteer soldiers and their families.
This week 1,500 airmen and soldiers from all over the country are in Salt Lake City, mostly to discuss future legislation and how to approach elected officials.
Many are also anticipating the President's visit to Utah next week, and responded to the comments he made this morning.
The soldiers and airmen in the room are from all over the country and have served in many different ways. They have one thing in common.
Sgt. Scott Campbell/ Utah National Guard: "When it comes time to put on the uniform and do the will of our elected officials, we become instruments of policy."
A policy the Commander in Chief is reinforcing. Mr. Bush talked about the mission in Iraq in his first news conference since July.
President Bush: "I can't tell you exactly when it's going to be done. That it's important for us to support the Iraqi people who have shown incredible courage and their desire to live in a free society. And if we ever give up the desire to help people live in freedom, we would have lost our soul as a nation as far as I'm concerned."
Specialist Brian Cornwell understands the risk in fighting for another country's freedom. He will soon leave behind his wife and four little girls to serve in Iraq.
Spc. Brian Cornwell: "My girls are wonderful. They love me to death. They love that their father's in the Army and I'm glad I have this opportunity for them to look up to me and honor me. I do the same with my grandparents, and I see it in their eyes, too."
That tradition of service is why hundreds of National Guard members are in Salt Lake City.
Sgt. Scott Campbell: "I think it really comes down to this, the history of the National Guard is longer than any other branch of the armed services."
And they want to attract more citizen soldiers. Future legislation is also a focus of this annual conference.
TSgt. Alexandria Chamberlain/ Utah Air National Guard: "As a recruiter, I'd love to tell my recruits they can start drawing retirement at 55 after 20 good years of service."
The perks certainly help. But for soldiers like Sgt. Scott Campbell, it was a desire to serve his country that pulled him away from a well paying business job and into the uniform he wears now.
Sgt. Scott Campbell: "We knew going into this that it was going to be a hard time. It's difficult on service members. It's difficult on their families, also difficult on the people of Iraq and Afghanistan. They've had to endure the types of attacks we have for many, many years. The fear that they've had to deal with is something they deserve to be liberated from, and hopefully we as American citizens can help them to have that time that isn't here yet, in the future."
Salt Lake City prepared for this convention in nine months. Usually cities have years to get ready to host the National Guard. It was supposed to be held in Biloxi, Mississippi, but the area is still heavily damaged by last year's hurricane.
