[C]OLCHESTER — The Vermont National Guard officially changed leaders on Friday in a ceremony that honored outgoing Adjutant General Steven Cray with high praise, gifts, a medal and flag, and welcomed his successor, Col. Greg Knight, with pomp and support.
But the presence of a fallen comrade was also keenly felt, in words, tears and a moment of silence for Brigadier Gen. Mike Heston, who died last year of pancreatic cancer after significant exposure to overseas toxic burn pits.
The transition from Cray to Knight, who the Legislature selected last month, comes at a key time for the Guard as it begins welcoming a new fleet of fighter jets, the F-35, in the fall, and tries to move past recent reports of sexual harassment, cronyism and retaliation against a whistleblower.
At the ceremony at Camp Johnson, Knight only touched briefly on the controversy. He told the 200-plus seated — and more than 100 soldiers in green camouflage Army fatigues standing in back — that he would make reforms promised to lawmakers, including addressing sexism so “my daughter and yours…will have the same opportunities as our sons.” During the campaign before legislators, Knight also focused on difficulties with recruitment and retention. He has said there are 400 vacancies in the Vermont Guard, which has about 3,400 members in the Army and Air Guard.
“We’ve had some challenges,” Knight acknowledged.
Cray, who served as adjutant general for six years, was honored with a certificate praising his military service from President Donald Trump. Gov. Phil Scott, the Guard’s commander-in-chief, was among those who highlighted Cray’s leadership helping to secure the controversial basing of the F-35, which will replace the F-16 fighter jets. (During the ceremony, two fighter jets flew over the building.) Cray was also credited for his leadership during several overseas deployments and disaster relief in Vermont and outside the state, his work securing college scholarships for Guard members and enhancing the Guard’s partnership with equivalents in Macedonia and Senegal. He will return to his job as a pilot at American Airlines. Knight called Cray a leader who was gracious, decent and calm.
The actual transition was completed in a flag passing-of-the-colors ceremony from Cray to Scott to Knight, a circle that began and ended with State Command Sergeant Major Toby Quick. Knight also receives a promotion to general, according to a spokesperson for the Guard.
The mood was festive with a small military band and the featured guests sitting in green leather chairs on the stage, a huge American flag draped behind. There was strong applause for Cray and Knight, both 35-year military veterans. Cray gave his wife and mother-in-law flowers and Knight nodded to his wife and “best friend” Tracy to open his speech. Cray’s wife, Lisa, received several gifts from Guard members for her dedication. She and Cray were dating when he began his Vermont National Guard service while at the University of Vermont. Both Cray, an F-16 pilot, and Knight spoke of being proud parents of children who joined the military.
But the hour-long ceremony, which also honored Cray’s retirement, was also bittersweet.
The square-jawed Knight, who led troops in Ramadi in Iraq for more than a year. told the audience he ran with the encouragement of Heston, his friend who couldn’t run himself because of his illness. Knight told the audience he would be soon wearing Heston’s uniform.
“It just seemed right,” he said.
During his acceptance speech, Knight called for a moment of silence for Heston. Before the ceremony, Gen. Richard Schneider, the president of Norwich University and a friend, said he felt Heston’s “presence here today.”
After the ceremony, Heston’s widow, June, who was sitting in the front row, held back tears as she said how grateful she was for the attention her husband received. Heston was a deputy adjutant general.
“You know, he won’t be forgotten and so it’s nice to know he’s still in the hearts and minds of everyone here at the National Guard,” June Heston said. She has testified about legislation to raise awareness about burn pits used by the military overseas.
Cray also encouraged Scott and Knight to change a selection process Cray called “awkward” where candidates lobby legislators for their vote. In all other states, the governor makes the selection. Lawmakers are considering bills that would add a more thorough review process and either keep the selection power with the Legislature or give it to the governor.
Schneider, praising Cray, also said selecting a candidate from the Army side helped provide balance to the Guard after decades of adjutant generals coming from the Air Guard side. The last adjutant general from the Army side was Don Edwards, who served from 1981-1997 before being succeeded by Martha Rainville, the first female adjutant general in the country. Rainville endorsed Knight in the election. Knight is the 27th adjutant general since 1795.
Schneider, regarding the allegations surrounding the Guard, said the Guard, like many institutions, is under closer scrutiny because of the #metoo movement.
“We need to make sure all our organizations and institutions are current and staying at the leading edge of those things because the Guard is a very important social structure to the fabric of Vermont,” Schneider said.
Regarding problems with retention, Schneider said the Guard is competing with a full employment economy and a changing mood toward the military from the more supportive years soon after 9/11.
Former Adjutant General Michael Dubie, who Knight called a mentor, said Knight’s best quality was his honesty. Serving in both branches would help Knight “bridge the gap” between the two groups. (Dubie had supported retired Brig. Gen. David Baczewski, who finished second to Knight.)
Dubie maintained the VTDigger series mischaracterized the Guard but said the perception of problems, including sexism, would need to be addressed.
“I think that trust has to be rebuilt. The fact is I don’t think the articles are accurate. That being said, it doesn’t matter what the truth is. It matters what people think. Col. Knight is going to have to build the trust back with the community, with the Guard and the state Legislature,” Dubie said.
“And Col. Knight can do that, because I believe the Vermont Guard is an amazing organization that can bounce back from whatever the allegations were,” Dubie said.
