Home at Last .....Home at Last.....Thank God We're Home at Last!

Saturday may have been cold and icy, but there were a lot of warm hearts, smiles, hugs and tears in Arab as the Arab National Guard Troops from Company A - 279th Signal Battalion arrived by bus at Arab City Hall after serving a one year deployment in Iraq.  The Arab unit was attached to Company B of the 711th Signal Battalion during their deployment.

Buses with troops from Arab and Hanceville left Fort Stewart, Georgia early Saturday morning headed for Arab and Hanceville.  There were fears that the buses would be delayed due to the icy road conditions in Georgia.  The buses were only slightly delayed by the weather and were only slightly later than their expected 3:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. arrival time.

Arriving to a flag lined Main Street, hundreds of yellow ribbons along the street and an escort by the Arab Police and Arab Fire Department, the two large passenger buses rolled up to Arab City Hall at approximately 4:20 p.m..  Each soldier was greeted personally by Mayor Lee Cox and members of the Arab City Council as they filed off the buses and unto the front porch of City Hall for a brief welcome home ceremony

The soldiers quickly fell into formation across the porch and behind a podium setup for the speakers.  "I've waited over a year to day this," said Cox, "welcome home heroes".  The crowd gathered to welcome the troops home broke into a loud cheer with Cox's statement.

Speaking to the crowd, Cox said, "I know that you are very anxious to see your loved ones but let us have them just a few more minutes in order to thank them for the great job they have done in serving our country and fighting for Iraq's freedom.  Then I promise we will let you have them."

An invocation was led by a military chaplain, who thanked God for the safe return of the troops and for the sacrifices that had been made by the soldiers and their families.  Ceremonies included remarks by a representative from U.S. Congressman Robert Adherolt, signing of the Star Spangled Banner and Pledge of Allegiance to the U.S. Flag.

After the time of prayer and other ceremonies, Mayor Cox said that "when the unit left for Iraq on January 5, 2004, I presented the City of Arab Flag to carry with them to Iraq and I promised that we not put up another city flag until the flag came home with our troops".  "Bringing the flag back home signifies that the troops have returned safely and now it is time to raise that flag again".  The flag was presented to Cox at the flag pole and together, Cox and two members of the unit raised the flag to it's original position.  This brought another roar from the crowd of several hundred people.

As the ceremony began to wind down, one could sense the excitement building.  Disciplined soldiers stood in formation, not yet released by their commanding officer.  Children, spouses, parents and other relatives and friends stood equally disciplined approximately twenty feet away from the loved ones that many had not seen for a year.  A closing benediction by the Reverend Paul Murphy, Pastor of Arab First Baptist was spoken and Mayor Cox concluded the ceremony as both sides broke ranks and rushed to find their loved one.

Tears flowed from children and adults alike as hugs and kisses were exchanged.  The tears eventually gave way to smiles along with handshakes from well wishers.  Families and friends shared these very personal moments as normal inhibitions were cast aside. 

Some of those moments were captured pictorially.  Approximately 100 photos of the event are available for viewing by clicking the link below.

To view the slide show click here.

From Arab Today......

Welcome home men and women of Co A - 279th Signal Battalion.  You have served your country well.  You have made Arab proud and renewed a sense of patriotism sorely needed in our country.  It may take several years for the full measure of your work and sacrifice to become a reality and noted in history, but we believe that you have contributed to the changing of the political landscape of the world and by doing so have made it a safer place for our children and those beyond.  Thank you for your sacrifice and the sacrifice of your family. 

You are an American Soldier, be proud!