Posted on 04/21/2007 10:15:29 AM PDT by SandRat
FORT HUACHUCA — Saying the Army appreciates its soldiers who are called upon to deploy into some of the world’s hot spots, Maj. Gen. Barbara Fast on Friday officially welcomed home 16 fort soldiers who had served in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Although the spotlight is usually directed on to units leaving and returning, the 16 are part of individuals and small teams that were called to deploy. Some were gone for a few months and others up to a year or more.
Fast established a quarterly welcome home ceremony to show the returning GIs, and in some cases civilians, they are appreciated.
“It’s an honor for me to speak with all of you today and to take part in this special occasion — the long-awaited homecoming every deployed warrior longs for,” she said.
Congratulating the soldiers and their families, the general said, “You can always be proud of your contribution to the security of our country and the role you served in providing peace, justice and democracy to people who had never known it before.”
People in uniform aren’t the only ones who appreciate the service they give, the general said before reading portions of two letters from children. One was written by a fifth-grader whose father has deployed. In it, Catlin Thompson described her father’s service noting “I am honored to be in this great nation and to be free. I have the armed forces to thank for my freedom.”
Caitlin wrote she is proud of her father “for being my dad and serving other people before himself.”
Another child, sixth-grader Nina Celmo, who has no military connection, wrote, “Even though I am only 10 years old, I have been fortunate that I am not close to anyone who has been deployed.”
The child also wrote, “I appreciate the families of the men and women who have lost their loved ones for us. I don’t think there is a bigger gift they could give.”
Fast said the children’s letters indicate the strong dedicated families expressed by Caitlin and the appreciation by non-military families from Nina.
What is important, she said, is to remember “the thousands of our fellow brothers and sisters-in-arms that are still in harm’s way.”
BILL HESS can be reached at 515-4615 or bill.hess@svherald.com.
WELCOME HOME HEROES!!!
Is is too much to ask for reporters and editors to READ(!!!) articles before they print them?
As far as the news itself, welcome home soldiers, thank you for putting your lives on the line so that we may live in a civilized society.
Welcome home,and Thank you.
I Love Fort Huachuca!!!
Well, I’ll be there in 2009. We got our alert order APR 6 for a OCT deployement. I’ll do my Captains career course after deployment. See you at Sierra Vista, Sandrat!
If you are married and have Scout age boys 1st Grade through 5th grades for Cub Scouts, 6th grade though H.S. for Boy Scouts, Boys or Girls from age 14 - 21 for Venturing Crews of Teams then I’m your POC to find a Scout Unit for them as I'm the District Commissioner for Cochise District.
If you only have young girls then I have a direct lead into the Girl Scouts as our District Chair’s Wife is his counter part in the Girl Scouts.
hehehehehe See what being a FREEPER can get you? hehehehehe
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.