Army general to attend 'Salute to Troops'

Valley Press on ^ | Saturday, July 2, 2005. | DENNIS ANDERSON

[BenLurkin]

LANCASTER - The joint-Lancaster-Palmdale "Salute to Troops" event scheduled for July 10 at JetHawks Stadium will include a visit by the commanding general of a storied California National Guard division and a star of the Iraq war, an M-1A Abrams battle tank. National Guard troops from Lancaster, Palmdale, and all across the Antelope Valley have served in Iraq.

A Marine Corps Reserve helicopter squadron from Edwards Air Force Base is serving in Iraq now, and the other Marine Reserve helicopter unit based at Edwards served in Afghanistan last year.

The Lancaster-based National Guard 756th Transportation Co. is back in Iraq, so the event provides a chance for the community to say "thank you" to their families.

The cities of Lancaster and Palmdale are planning their "Salute to Troops" event with a star-spangled fireworks salute.

Maj. Gen. Jeffrey L. Gidley, commander of the 40th Infantry Division (Mechanized), will be among the leadership attending the event themed as a salute to all those in current military service and to veterans from all services. He will be accompanied by the division's senior non-commissioned officer, Sgt. Maj. Stu Fuller.

Soldiers from the 40th Division, a state National Guard unit with 16,000 troops, are serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom. The 40th Division fought in the Korean War [and WWII IIRC].

"It's very exciting to have the commanding general coming," Master Sgt. Richard Casper said. "It shows that this event has really captured the spirit of the communities of the Antelope Valley. The National Guard recognizes that."

Casper, one of the volunteers helping both cities organize the event, recently returned from the war in Iraq. The Antelope Valley senior non-commissioned officer was with the 1/185th Armor, whose hometown unit, Bravo Co., only returned from Iraq in April.

Tankers from the Palmdale unit took their M-1A Abrams to the city of Mosul in December and January and used the tanks to fight insurgents who fled to the northern Iraqi city after the battle of Fallujah in November. An M-1A Abrams like the one used by the Bravo tankers will be on display at the game.

On Friday, JetHawks tickets went on sale for $1 apiece for the special game in honor of the troops. Through Thursday tickets were available free to veterans or current military.

Large blocks of tickets were made available for the troops by state Sen. George Runner and Assemblywoman Sharon Runner, R-Lancaster.

"An enormous amount of work by many volunteers has gone into making this joint-city salute something that will be meaningful for our military," Anne Aldrich, spokeswoman for the city of Lancaster said.

Local businesses and large corporations flocked to underwrite support for the event, and on game day, Aldrich said, she hopes the troops will see a stadium full of banners announcing support for their service.

Residents who attend the July 10 game may show support by bringing items that will be donated to troops serving abroad in the war on terror. Batteries, packaged CDs and DVDs, prepaid phone cards, handheld electronic games and containers of moist towelettes are listed among the items that will be collected.

"We've had a great deal of success with sponsorship and companies wanting to support our troops," Aldrich said. "What we want is to see the maximum amount of troops possible to come out and enjoy the ball game."

A joint committee of both cities has been working on the "Salute to the Troops" project for weeks on end. They have been joined by leadership of Valley-based National Guard units, which will participate in a parade formation as a part of the Sunday evening event.

The commander of a National Guard unit just returned from Iraq said the gesture from the two cities has meaning to troops who have gone into harm's way.

"I can't explain … how powerful it is when our communities recognize us, especially when we're overseas," said Capt. James Westerfield, commander of Bravo Co.

"It really keeps you going; that stuff is with you the rest of your life," Westerfield said at a recent news conference to announce the event.

The July 10 ball game marks the first time that both large cities of the Antelope Valley cooperated to organize a salute to veterans and troops in current service in the war on terror.

"This is an Antelope Valleywide event that's strictly to honor those men and women that have served us and continue to serve us," Lancaster Mayor Frank Roberts said.

Antelope Valley servicemen and servicewomen who served in Iraq, Afghanistan, Desert Storm, Vietnam, Korea, World War II and any other conflict will be the guests of honor at the 6 p.m. California League baseball game between the JetHawks and the High Desert Mavericks.

The $1 tickets can be bought at the stadium box office, 45116 Valley Central Way. Tickets must be picked up in person through Thursday. Box office hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturdays, and 10 a.m. to noon on Sundays.

"The city of Lancaster is proud and thankful to all of our veterans, and this is one way we're going to be able to show our gratitude," Roberts said.

The game will conclude with a fireworks display sponsored by Lancaster and Palmdale auto mall dealers. In addition, guests will be able to purchase hot dogs and soft drinks for $1 each, courtesy of a sponsorship from Northrop Grumman Corp.

"This is a great opportunity for the Antelope Valley to demonstrate its unity and support of our veterans," Palmdale Mayor Jim Ledford said.

"We're a very pro-veteran community, obviously, (and) we're always showing our appreciation and support for veterans and their families," Ledford said. "This war in Iraq has brought it to a point where we make it real obvious how we feel, and we thought nothing would be finer than to see the JetHawks Stadium just packed to the brim like a sellout playoff baseball game in support of our veterans."

The salute also will provide a chance for the community to say thank you to veterans of past wars such as Vietnam and Korea.

"We cannot allow this event to go without being sold out … the whole, entire facility needs to be full of people," Ledford said. "Let's step up, Antelope Valley; let's leave no doubt where we stand."

Businesses and groups interested in sponsoring a portion of the event are asked to call Lancaster City Hall, (661) 723-6054, or Palmdale City Hall, (661) 267-5115.