News of plans to welcome members of the Red Bull back from Iraq are being published. If you can, get out and help welcome back National Guard soldiers who experienced the longest deployment of any unit in the country. They and their families will appreciate it! (While the short notice may seem odd to some, it's to ensure the safety of the troops rather than publicizing troop movement way in advance).
Austin: Tentative arrival time 1:15-2 p.m. Tuesday, July 17
The Daily Herald reports that 18 local soldiers are coming home in Public welcome ceremony for troops Tuesday. Some details:
At last word, the soldiers and their immediate families will be arriving in Austin between 1:15 and 2 p.m. Tuesday.
Plans call for the Patriot Guard to escort a donated bus from Brooklyn Park to Austin. When the contingent reaches the Mower County line outside Blooming Prairie, the Mower County Sheriff’s Office will take up escort duties to and through Austin to the armory.
If time allows and the bus caravan moves through downtown Austin, the public is invited to show their support by waving signs and the flag. . . .
. . .Hanson invited all Austin residents to fly the American flag or to display “Support Our Troops” signage in honor of the returning soldiers.
Fairmont: 11 a.m., Tuesday, July 17
The Sentinel reports First troops return Tuesday. The city has only had three days to plan the return ofthe first 20 or so Iraq veterans. Details:
Just less than 20 of the National Guard members who shipped out in October 2005 for training and deployment in Iraq are expected to reach Fairmont at 11 a.m. Tuesday, said James Freeman, administrator for the Fairmont National Guard unit.
The soldiers returning Tuesday are members of the First Brigade Combat Team from the Fairmont and Jackson National Guard units and other area units. About 100 more soldiers are expected to return in a second wave later this month, Freeman said, but their arrival date is still unknown. . . .
. . .Plans to welcome the troops home include a parade through Fairmont. The parade will start on State Street with the troops riding into town on fire trucks. The parade will turn onto Blue Earth Avenue and continue down Lake Avenue to the Fairmont Armory. A ceremony at the Armory following the parade is not open to the public, and Freeman asks that people respect the privacy of the soldiers and their families.
The city has worked with event organizers to keep things like the parade permit open because the exact date of the troops’ return was unknown.
Event organizers encourage the public to show their support during the parade. Small flags will be handed out along the parade route while supplies last, and the Family Readiness Group will have items like T-shirts, wristbands and yard signs for sale before the event.
St. Peter: 11 a.m . Saturday July 21
KEYC-TV reports in The Man Behind The Yellow Ribbons In St. Peter that the town's National Guard members will be back next weekend:
The troops will be arriving to St. Peter around 11:00 Saturday morning. They'll then drive up Highway 169 to the Armory.
The man behind the ribbons all over town:
An injured soldier from St. Peter is one of those responsible for putting up all the yellow ribbons. Sgt. David Brouwer says, "Primarily to let us know that we aren't forgotten about and what we did and the sacrifices that both the service members and family members had given up over the past 22 months."
Windom: Stay tuned
The Cottonwood County Citizen didn't have exact dates and times when it posted the weekly edition on the 12th, but gave directions on how to find out:
"Families who are meeting their soldiers at Ft. McCoy have been instructed to call their designated point of contact in Windom when they are about an hour outside of town," Dibble says. "At that time a call will be put in to KDOM Radio and an announcement will be made for any citizens who wish to show their support to meet at Runnings on Highway 60.
"The plan is then for the Windom Fire Department to escort the soldier around the town square and to his home."
All area citizens are encouraged to pass this information along to their friends and families and to pass the word upon hearing the news of their arrival. . . .
A larger event is being planned to celebrate the soldiers' return, but will be held at a later date.
For more information on the planned return, contact Amanda Hunter at 831-1160, or Dibble at the Cottonwood County Veterans Service Office at 831-5522.
That's what we have so far; we'll update as more welcome celebrations are made public. Happy days!
Comments