Posted on 07/19/2007 4:51:18 PM PDT by mdittmar
WATERLOO --- Attention eastern Iowa: The families of the Iowa Army National Guard 1st Battalion, 133rd Infantry want you.
The region is being called to duty to welcome the Waterloo-headquartered Iowa Army National Guard battalion home from Iraq next Wednesday.
The troops will roll in from Fort McCoy, Wis., through eastern Iowa to a homecoming tentatively planned for 1 p.m. at Waterloo's Riverfront Stadium.
"We're challenging all the communities in eastern Iowa, all the way to the Wisconsin border to show their patriotism, show their pride, show their thanks for the 133rd," said Cathleen Atchison of Marion, battalion family readiness group coordinator.
Battalion families are asking homes and businesses throughout the region to fly American flags, set up patriotic displays and put out signs to welcome the troops home.
"These soldiers truly deserve a heroes' welcome home," said Atchison, whose husband, Maj. Donnie Atchison, is the battalion's executive officer. She noted two soldiers, Scott Nisely of Marshalltown and Kampha Sourivong of Iowa City, were killed in combat. "Some have come home with severe injuries," Atchison said. "Throughout it, they served with pride. We're happy these communities have supported our families for the last two years. What a neat way to end our extended deployment --- they come back to see our communities just draped (with displays) thanking the 133rd."
Even for those not on the exact return route, the displays will show support for individual soldiers as they return to their home communities, said Darci Ritter, of Waterloo, a local company 133rd family readiness group coordinator
The battalion, along with other elements of the 1st Brigade Combat Team of the National Guard's 34th "Red Bull" Infantry Division have served the longest deployment of the Iraq war to date, according to the 1/34th's Internet site. The 1/133rd is coming home after nearly two years of active duty and 17 months in Iraq.
A community halfway across the country, Chappaqua, N.Y., has already done its part for the 1/133rd. The community of less than 10,000 north of New York City paid a heavy price in the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on New York's World Trade Center.
"On 9/11 they lost 35 fathers," said Atchison. Schools and parent-teacher organizations in Chappaqua have formed a committee to welcome home returning troops around the country. They were made aware of the 1/133rd from a CBS News report on the battalion, "Fathers, Sons and Brothers," that appeared on CBS' "60 Minutes" program Memorial Day weekend, and by Chappaqua citizens with relatives in the battalion.
"They've donated some door prizes for the families, some really neat stuff," Atchison said, as well as signs and decorations prepared by Chappaqua school students, which 1/133rd families will put up at the stadium for the homecoming. They also offered to make arrangements for concessions for troops' families.
Other local organizations and businesses are preparing for the anticipated homecoming.
Black Hawk County Supervisor Craig White said county employees have raised funds through bake sales and personal donations to get "welcome home" placards printed for distribution at the homecoming celebration.
Iowa's Bravest, a group of John Deere Waterloo employees who have sent gift boxes to various troops since the Iraq war began in March 2003, will be distributing several hundred American flags at the homecoming, Iowa's Bravest co-organizer Julie Ehlers said.
Ritter said several local motels have offering discounted room rates through the family response group for families needing to stay overnight for the homecoming. Among them is one of the city's biggest and newest businesses, The Isle Casino & Hotel at Waterloo.
Isle officials pointed out the duration of the casino's construction and the 1/133rd's deployment ran almost concurrent to each other. Ritter said she sent photos of the casino's construction progress to her husband Ross, to mark the passage of time during the deployment.
Also, Capt. John Beckman of the Waterloo Police Department said plans are under way to assemble a motorcade of police vehicles to meet and escort the troops through the city to Riverfront Stadium.
Atchison said that, as excited as 1/133rd families are about their troops' homecoming, they realize others are about to be deployed.
"We want them to know we understand the mission they are about to embark on," she said. "Just because our soldiers are coming home doesn't mean we've forgotten them. Well be there for them through all their trials and tribulations, and excited when they also come home."
RED BULL BRAVO.
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