Maj. Gen. Michael R. Zerbonia, the Assistant Adjutant

Maj. Gen. Michael R. Zerbonia, the Assistant Adjutant General - Army of the Illinois National Guard and Commander of the Illinois Army National Guard presents a baseball signed by Theo Epstein, the President of Baseball Operations for the Chicago Cubs. The ball was a thank-you gift for Whittington speaking at the ILARNG's Commanders Guidance Conference on Sept. 24. Whittington discussed keeping the Army National Guard ready through the training cycle at the conference in East Peoria, Illinois. Whittington, who has deployed to both Iraq and Afghanistan, served as the acting Director of the Army National Guard as his last assignment before retiring this year. He had also served as the Commander of the 29th Infantry Division and as the Deputy Commanding General of U.S. First Army.