EDITORIAL: Sen. Banks walks the walk

Banks, who represents northern Grant County in Indiana’s 17th District, will begin serving active duty with the U.S. Navy Reserve in September. He expects to be deployed to Afghanistan sometime this fall, and should be back in the United States sometime next spring.

“It’s been a life-long dream of mine to be a Navy officer and it’s something I’ve pursued for years,” he recently said in a telephone interview.

He said it is an honor for him to have the opportunity to serve among “our brave men and women in Afghanistan.”

Banks won’t discuss in detail his duties in Afghanistan, which is understandable. The fewer details known about deployments in any hostile environment, the safer our troops will stay.

We, along with others, commend Sen. Banks for fulfilling his duties to the Navy Reserves and to this country.

The senator is facing re-election this fall to his seat in the Indiana Senate. However, his deployment will come before the November Election. He has already has plans in place, should he be re-elected. He will receive his oath of office while still in Afghanistan, thanks to today’s technology. He then will submit notice to take a leave of absence so local party leaders can choose a replacement for him to serve in the 2015 legislative session, guaranteeing the citizens of the 17th District have a voice in Indianapolis.

We thank Sen. Banks for his decision and wish him Godspeed in service to his community and country.