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MICHIGAN – House Republican Conference Chairwoman Lisa McClain (R-Mich.) met with Master Sergeant Raymond Stier and his family after he faced criticism from members of the Richmond Community Schools Board of Education while deployed in the Middle East.

During the meeting, Chairwoman McClain presented Stier with an American flag flown over the U.S. Capitol and a Congressional Record statement recognizing his service to the country and the Richmond community.

“When a service member deploys overseas to defend this country, the appropriate response is gratitude—not attacks, and certainly not demands that they step aside.” Chairwoman McClain said. “Ray Stier was serving his country in the Middle East and still waking up at 3 a.m. to serve his community back home. Meanwhile, keyboard warriors sat safely behind their screens attacking a man who was answering his nation's call. Michigan should be proud of Ray Stier, and anyone who called his service a ‘disservice’ owes him, his family, and this community an apology.”

During Stier’s deployment, he attended board meetings virtually until operational demands temporarily limited his ability to participate. Some board members later criticized his absence as a “disservice” and suggested he should have resigned before leaving for deployment. It is important to note that the seat sat vacant longer before Stier's appointment than it did while he was unable to attend meetings during his deployment.

"My goal is to continue being an advocate for the community,” Ray Stier said. “One of the good things that I think came out of this was that it got so much attention that community members were made aware of the dynamics that were not being brought to light."

Amy Stier, Ray’s wife, became a leading voice in defending her husband’s service while he was deployed. Their daughter, Easton, also spoke at multiple Richmond Community Schools Board of Education meetings in support of her father.

“When I heard it, I was very upset,” Amy Stier said. “I felt it was disrespectful that they talked about it and admitted they talked about it. I got a text from Ray that he was currently under attack where he was at and had just found out he was being attacked on the home front as well.”

Stier returned home from deployment on May 18 and attended a school board meeting in person later that same day. He has continued serving on the board and advocating for Richmond families.