With cheers and tears of joy, families from across the state greeted Oregon National Guard soldiers upon their return home during the past two weeks. The 2,700 members of the 3rd Battalion, 116th Cavalry Brigade Combat Team included more than 500 soldiers from Oregon, with 135 from The Dalles and 35 from Hood River. These units deployed to Iraq in November of 2010 after spending two months of training at Fort Shelby, Miss. They were flown to Fort Lewis, Wash., between late August and early September for medical exams and the processing of paperwork before being bused to the armory nearest their respective homes.
During the past year, GHC provided monthly care packages for 700 heroes, including more than 500 3-116 CAV soldiers from the Gorge, Pendleton, Hermiston, Le Grande, Baker and Redmond.
The Gorge Heroes Club is truly honored to have supported the Guard during their deployment. We would like to thank all the community members from Hood River and Wasco counties who stood on the I-84 overpasses after receiving only a moment's notice to welcome our warriors home as they passed through these communities. We would also like to extend a huge, "THANK YOU" to the First Responders from both counties that met the buses carrying soldiers from the Hood River and The Dalles units and proudly escorted them from the freeway to the cheering crowds of supporters and family members waiting at the armory's.
~The following is a collection of photo's of their WELCOME HOME~
"Returning the Special Good Luck Coin" - Spc Haskins member of the Oregon National Guard 3-116 CAV, Fox Co from Hood River returns a lucky coin given to him on the day he deployed a year ago from Hood River resident Dyrk Pritchett as friends and family members look on. Welcome home Spec Haskins!
"Welcome Home Dad" - By Branden Fletcher
"Soldier Husband Hero" - By Wendy Barge'
"Welcome Home Warrior" - by McKaley Wafford
"Hugs and Smiles" - by Angi Landreth
"We are so proud of you" - by Debbie Noland
"My Son. Hoorah!" by Kathy Wells
CSM Brunk Conley welcomes home soldiers as they depart the bus at The Dalles Armory.
Photo courtesy of The Dalles Chronicle
Spec John Winters from Alpha Co, The Dalles receives a welcome home hug from his Dad, Scott Winters. Photo courtesy of The Dalles Chronicle
Little Finnegan Sherburne from The Dalles cheers as he waits to give his Daddy a welcome home hug.
Photo courtest of The Dalles Chronicle
And.... My Daddy's Home!
Photo Courtesy of The Dalles Chronicle
If you have a "Welcome Home" picture you would like to add to this post, please e-mail it to: GHC@gorge.net
Honored,
Your GHC
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