Posted on 05/01/2003 7:50:50 PM PDT by Jim Robinson
Edited on 05/01/2003 7:51:29 PM PDT by Jim Robinson. [history]
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President Bush gives a 'thumbs-up' sign after declaring the end of major combat in Iraq as he speaks aboard the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln off the California coast, Thursday, May 1, 2003. The carrier will arrive in San Diego Friday following a record 10-month deployment including 'Operation Iraq Freedom.' (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) |
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Rilly Dooris, left, and his mother, Joanna, cheer as his father's F/A-18 Hornet flies overhead Thursday, May 1, 2003, at Lemoore Naval Air Station near Lemoore, Calif. Dooris' squadron was one of three units which landed after leaving the USS Abraham Lincoln. (AP Photo/Gary Kazanjian) |
Instead of our regular Friday Night Support our Troops Rally in Fresno this week, the Fresno/Central Valley Chapter will join the rally at Bob Williams Chevrolet in Lemoore from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday, May 4, to offer our thanks and a welcome home to the sailors and aircrews of the USS Abraham Lincoln!
We're hoping that citizens from every city in the valley and beyond will join us. Bring your family and friends, flags, banners and signs and help us offer thanks and support to these courageous young men and women who have spent the last 10 months and more fighting for our freedom and security!
May God bless and protect all of our men and women in uniform!!
Thank you all very much!
Jim Robinson
On behalf of the Fresno/Central Valley Chapter
Here's the article from the Fresno Bee:
After waiting nearly 10 months for the return of their loved ones, Valley families will reunite next week with Lemoore-based pilots and sailors aboard the Navy aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln.
Navy officials said the Lincoln will dock May 2 at Naval Air Station North Island in San Diego. Nearly 700 pilots and sailors from the Lemoore Naval Air Station are part of the Lincoln's 5,500-member crew.
Many local families are planning trips to Southern California to greet their loved ones. Others will attend one of two homecomings at Lemoore NAS.
About 36 pilots will fly to the base May 1 in F/A-18 Hornet and Super Hornet strike-fighter jets. The following day, hundreds of enlisted personnel will arrive after the ship docks in San Diego, Lemoore base spokesman Dennis McGrath said.
"I'm so excited, I just can't wait," said Loretta Penfield, whose husband, Jeff, is the commanding officer of VFA-115, the Navy's first squadron of Super Hornet strike-fighter jets to be deployed overseas. The other two Hornet squadrons aboard the Lincoln are VFA-25 and VFA-113.
The Lincoln left its home port in Everett, Wash., in July for what was supposed to be a routine six-month deployment.
The carrier was on its way home to the United States in January when the Navy ordered it back to the Persian Gulf as part of a military buildup for the war in Iraq.
The crew of the Lincoln launched some of the first airstrikes during Operation Iraqi Freedom. Pilots flew more than 1,500 missions during 17 days of combat and dropped 1.3 million pounds of ordnance on Iraqi targets, according to the ship's public information officer.
After about nine months at sea, the crew of the Lincoln received word this month that they were heading home. The cruise marked the longest deployment for a Navy aircraft carrier since the Vietnam War, Navy officials said.
For the past couple of weeks, many Navy wives in Lemoore have been busy making plans for the homecomings. They've hung "welcome home" signs throughout the base and tied yellow ribbons to trees.
"It's really starting to look very festive out there," Penfield said.
Many businesses in Lemoore donated money to help purchase food, drinks and decorations.
People in the community are baking cakes and cookies and others are buying pizzas and sandwiches.
"Businesses are just so excited," Penfield said. "I keep getting calls asking what they can do to help."
The wives also are preparing goodie bags to place on the beds of single sailors who live in the barracks on base. Many don't have family in the area and the wives want to make sure they too have something special to come home to.
The welcome-home celebrations won't end with the base homecomings. A troops rally and family fun day is planned from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. May 4 at Bob Williams Chevrolet in Lemoore.
The reporter can be reached at kginis@fresnobee.com or 622-2417.
http://www.fresnobee.com/local/sv/story/6613003p-7552057c.html
Bob Williams Chevrolet-GEO
1356 W Iona Ave.
Lemoore, CA 93245
Sunday May 4th, 11:00am to 2:00pm
Hey! This guy just signed up in 1997! ;-)
Today was a proud day for you, Navy vet. Wish I could have been on board to salute the man.:-)
Big bump for President Bush and NAS Lemoore.
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