Despite a nearly 90-minute delay due to transportation problems, members of Detachment 1 of the Missouri National Guard’s 1221st Transportation Company arrived home Saturday afternoon to a warm reception from family, friends and members of the community.
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Despite a nearly 90-minute delay due to transportation problems, members of Detachment 1 of the Missouri National Guard’s 1221st Transportation Company arrived home Saturday afternoon to a warm reception from family, friends and members of the community.
The unit returned to Trenton around 1:30 p.m., escorted by members of the Trenton Police Department, Missouri Highway Patrol and Grundy County Sheriff’s Department and cheered by persons lining Ninth Street from the city limits to the Trenton AMS Mall, where a public program was held. Signs and banners welcomed the soldiers home as U.S. flags waved their greetings. The soldiers arrived courtesy of the Brookfield School District, which provided a bus to bring the unit to Trenton after the bus the soldiers were in broke down near Marceline. Private cars were also used to help transport the soldiers, who were anxious to get to their destination and to the family members many hadn’t seen in 14 months.
The front and east side lawns of the Trenton AMS building were full of family members, friends and other well-wishers, all of whom offered hugs, kisses and high fives to the soldiers as they departed the bus. Many received gifts of flowers, banners and photographs and all of them were recipients of a handshake, thanking them for a job well done.
After the crowd made its way into the AMS auditorium, the soldiers then filed in and were welcomed with a standing ovation by a near-capacity crowd. Following the posting of the colors by Joseph L. Norton VFW Post 919 and the singing of the National Anthem by Chelsea Woodard, the program got under way.
Much of the messages given by those on stage thanked the unit for the job they did while in Iraq. It was noted that while in Iraq, the 1221st traveled over 1.5 million miles with no accidents while performing their duties.
12th District State Sen. David Klindt, R-Bethany, noted the difference in emotions displayed by the soldiers at the time they left Trenton over one year ago and the emotions displayed as they arrived home on Saturday. He said the state owes a debt of gratitude for the courage and service displayed by the soldiers during their deployment.
Klindt also read a letter from Secretary of State Matt Blunt, himself a reservist, who recognized the efforts of the unit and thanked them for their service to the state and to the U.S.
Third District State Rep. Jim Whorton, D-Trenton, noted that no one in the community can know what the soldiers went through while they were in Iraq and that the community can’t fully appreciate what the soldiers did during their time there. He noted that the community is very proud of the soldiers and the risks they took and congratulated them for their efforts.
Trenton Mayor Gary Hall said that as a veteran, he is very appreciative of the sacrifices made by the unit and delighted to see them all return home.
“You did a fantastic job. Keep it up,” he said.
A proclamation from Gov. Bob Holden and a letter from U.S. Sen. Jim Talent were also read.
The program concluded with Missouri Adjutant Brig. Gen. Dennis Shull, who told the soldiers that they “did the job, they did the mission” and that the community and state were very proud of their accomplishments. He also encouraged the soldiers to talk about their experiences in Iraq.
“Don’t keep (it) bottled up inside,” he said. “Talk to your family about it. You need to share it.”
He concluded by recognizing the sacrifice made by both the soldiers and their families.
“God bless you for your sacrifice. God bless our soldiers and God bless America,” he said.
The unit also held a brief memorial for Sgt. Steve McFarland of Milan, who was deployed with the unit and was diagnosed with a terminal illness while in Iraq. A mechanic and squad leader, McFarland died this past spring.