BREAKING NEWS
Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer talks unannounced trip to Afghanistan
Photographer: KNXV
Copyright 2012 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Posted: 12/06/2012
PHOENIX - After being out of sight for nearly a week, Arizona Governor Jan Brewer is talking about her unannounced trip to the Middle East this week.
It's a trip she claims has given her a deeper appreciation of the courage of our service members.
"America has the finest military ever," smiled Brewer via satellite from Afghanistan.
The governor has spent the week touring the war zone in a combat helicopter. Her secret mission took her to the front lines of military bases in Kuwait and Afghanistan.
She called the rare privilege to personally salute our service members heartwarming.
She said it was great "to be able to visit our men and women, America's finest daughters and sons and mothers and brothers and fathers here."
Details of the governor's tour were kept hush-hush for security reasons.
A personal invitation, Brewer said, came straight from the U.S. Department of Defense and Missouri Governor Jay Nixon.
"We have a lot to be proud of," Brewer said of our courageous soldiers. "The people that are serving over here are truly the most disciplined, dedicated, proud people one could ever meet."
Brewer is leaving the region with many heartwarming and memorable moments during her visit but said one of her favorites was presenting awards to Arizona's Apache National Guard Unit during their honors day ceremony.
"Usually it's not the Governor that does that, but they asked. It was approved and I was able to do that so that was a great, great honor for me," Brewer said proudly.
Brewer said she wasn't afraid to be in a war zone as she flew to several bases in the Middle East.
Right now, more than 400 Arizona guard members are currently serving in Afghanistan.
The governor is expected to return to the U.S. Friday and will back here in Arizona on Saturday.
Copyright 2012 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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