Sen. Joni Ernst Hosts Town Hall Amid National Guard Ceremonies

DES MOINES, Iowa — Iowa Republican U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst will host a town hall meeting on Friday in Butler County, according to a news release from her office. The meeting, which is open to the public, will begin at 7:30 a.m. at Aplington-Parkersburg High School in Parkersburg.

Ernst stated she looks forward to hearing from constituents about the issues that matter most to them. This event marks her first public town hall of the year 2025.

In addition to the town hall, the Iowa National Guard is organizing 24 send-off ceremonies from May 28 to May 30. These ceremonies will honor approximately 1,800 Iowa soldiers heading to the Middle East as part of Operation Inherent Resolve, aimed at combating the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria.

Maj. Gen. Stephen Osborn, Adjutant General of the Iowa National Guard, emphasized the importance of the send-off events. “These send-offs are a vital tradition,” he said. “They represent not only the courage and dedication of our soldiers but the unwavering support of the communities that stand behind them. We encourage Iowans to attend, show their gratitude, and stand shoulder-to-shoulder with our troops.”

Among the scheduled send-off ceremonies is one in Cedar Rapids, where two events will take place at the Cedar Rapids Armory: one at 2 p.m. Thursday for nine troops and another at 5 p.m. Friday for 109 troops. All events are open to the public.