The men and women who serve our state in the nations armed forces will be honored during the annual Armed Forces Appreciation Day Thursday, March 22, at the Kansas Statehouse in Topeka. No matter what branch they serve in, these people have one common mission: to protect the health and safety of the people of Kansas and our nation, said Maj. Gen. Lee Tafanelli, the adjutant general. Its fitting that we set aside one day to honor their service and I invite everyone to come to this event to meet some of our fine service members, shake their hand, find out what they do and how we can support them. The event will run from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. with displays in the capitol rotunda and static displays of military equipment on the south side of the grounds. Kansas National Guard units represented at the event include the 130^th Field Artillery Brigade, 235th Regiment, 635^th Regional Support Group, Recruiting and Retention Battalion, 73rd Civil Support Team, Advanced Turbine Engine Army Maintenance, 190^th Air Refueling Wing, and the 184^th Intelligence Wing. Military equipment displays will include a High Mobility Artillery Rocket System vehicle, HMMWV (High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle), an armored security vehicle, a communication vehicle and an AGT 1500 turbine engine. A Bambi bucket used to fight wildland fires in Kansas will also be on display. During the event, Gov. Jeff Colyer will meet with military leaders from Fort Riley, Fort Leavenworth, McConnell Air Force Base, and the Kansas National Guard. The Governors Military Council will meet to discuss past, present, and potential future issues that could affect service members, their families, and the communities surrounding their installations in order to find potential solutions to these issues.