Posted on 12/10/2005 8:06:30 AM PST by WestTexasWend
The City Council declared next week Yellow Ribbon Week in honor of the National Guard troops returning from Iraq.
As part of the declaration, the city is encouraging Lubbock-area residents, businesses and organizations to wear or display yellow ribbons. Yellow Ribbon Week begins Sunday and lasts through Dec. 18.
"It's a great way to honor the soldiers that are coming back," said Mayor Pro Tem Tom Martin. "We owe it to them to recognize their service and welcome them back."
About 400 members of the 2nd Battalion, 142nd Infantry of the Texas National Guard troops left the Lubbock area for Iraq in August 2004.
The soldiers, now stationed in Maine, will be arriving in Waco this weekend and are scheduled to return to Lubbock on Tuesday.
While in Iraq, the troops duties often included protecting radio relays, supporting convoys and rebuilding schools and other facilities, said battalion First Sergeant Dan Reid, who is also a Lubbock fire marshall.
"It's quite an honor to have the City of Lubbock, the city I work for, to stand up when our soldiers come home," Reid said.
Several local businesses are hosting a banquet for the soldiers and their families on Saturday, Dec. 17.
West Texas/Lubbock ping
Time to get organized!
Kudos to Lubbock for doing this. What are the odds that any left coast city will follow this example?
Soldiers of Freedom, Liberty, and Democracy...
The "Greatest Generation" had a better idea: they had "VE DAY" and "VJ Day" parades. By the standard used in WWI, our troops are long overdue (we are well into the occupation phase). The next milestone in Iraq should be celebrated with a "VI-1 Day".
This should be nationwide to recognize our patriotism, and be declared official by our government.
So whose congressional district is this? I expect every returning troop from Iraq in a liberal district to be greeted by said liberal rep, media in tow recording said liberal for being responsible for the troop(s) returning home.
THIS IS A GREAT JESTURE. LET US NOT FORGET OUR AFGHAN VETS. IT SEEMS ALL ATTENTION IS ON IRAQ THESE DAYS AND AFGHANISTAN IS BASICALLY FORGOTTEN. I SERVED PROUDLY THERE AND DONT WANT IT TO BECOME ANOTHER KOREAN "FORGOTTEN" WAR.
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