TROOPS LOVE THE PARADE.Byline: Karen McCowan The Register-Guard CORRECTION (ran 5/27/05): A story on Page C5 Sunday incorrectly described Oregon National Guard Sgt. Chuck Mangus' duties in Iraq. Mangus was a gunner and team leader in a reconnaissance platoon. CORRECTION (ran 5/25/2005): A story on Page C5 on Sunday included an incorrect name for the Oregon Veterans Motorcycle Association. COTTAGE GROVE Cottage Grove, village (1990 pop. 22,935), Washington co., SE Minn., near the St. Croix River; inc. 1965. There is farming (cattle, sheep, corn, and soybeans) and manufacturing (chemicals and machinery). - This town of 9,000 pulled out all the stops Saturday to welcome home "its own:" members of the Second Battalion, 162nd Infantry of Oregon's Army National Guard - many of them based in the armory here. Hundreds of people lined a 15-block parade route along 10th and Main streets. They applauded, cheered and saluted dozens of soldiers - some just returned from tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan. Such soldiers, distinguished by the tan hues of their desert camouflage uniforms, enjoyed "rides" ranging from a hulking hulk·ing also hulk·y adj. Unwieldy or bulky; massive. hulking Adjective big and ungainly Adj. 1. military Humvee to the shiny convertibles of a local Corvette corvette, small warship, classed between a frigate and a sloop-of-war. Corvettes usually were flush-decked and carried fewer than 28 guns. They were widely employed in escorting convoys and attacking merchant ships during the great naval wars of the late 18th and club. The turnout was gratifying grat·i·fy tr.v. grat·i·fied, grat·i·fy·ing, grat·i·fies 1. To please or satisfy: His achievement gratified his father. See Synonyms at please. 2. , many said. "The biggest thing for me was seeing all these people," said Spc. Cliff Matier of Corvallis, who turned 19 while patrolling in Iraq. "It's nice to see that support that we were looking for Looking for In the context of general equities, this describing a buy interest in which a dealer is asked to offer stock, often involving a capital commitment. Antithesis of in touch with. . In Iraq, all you'd hear is that nobody was happy to have us over there." Staff Sgt. John Calhoun John Calhoun may refer to
"I felt welcomed and honored," said Calhoun, 60, a Tigard mechanic deployed to Iraq as leader of a transportation squadron that wound up providing convoy security. "I'm really glad the people here did this." "It was really great to have the whole community come out like this," echoed Staff Sgt. Rebekah Mae Bruns, 27, of Cottage Grove. A public affairs Those public information, command information, and community relations activities directed toward both the external and internal publics with interest in the Department of Defense. Also called PA. See also command information; community relations; public information. officer, she picked up an M-16 and fought alongside infantrymen when her convoy was attacked on the way into Baghdad. Sgt. Chuck Mangus of Eugene was touched by both the size and variety of the turnout. `There were some people who were obviously more on the `end the war' side, but they were still out here supporting us,' said Mangus, a Lane County Jail corrections officer The examples and perspective in this article or section may not represent a worldwide view of the subject. Please [ improve this article] or discuss the issue on the talk page. who led a reconnaissance platoon in Iraq. "It was really cool." Mangus was most moved, however, by the salutes and handshakes he received from Vietnam veterans This article is about the French band. For veterans of the Vietnam War, see Vietnam veteran. The Vietnam Veterans were a six-person French psychedelic group that released six records in the 1980s. The band was praised by many alternative music publications. , who did not come home to similar "thank you" parades. "This needs to be a welcome home for them, too," he said. It was, said Dave "Wizard" Sowder, a Gresham warehouse Navy veteran who rode in the parade with other Vietnam era Vietnam Era is a term used by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs to classify veterans of the Vietnam War. The Vietnam Era is considered to have begun in 1964 and ended in 1975. The U.S. Congress, U.S. veterans who make up most of the Oregon Veterans Motorcycle Club. He made the trip down, though, to show support for the recent returnees - including a brother-in-law and a nephew. "These guys are our newest veterans, and some of them are going to have troubling experiences over the years," he said. "We want to show support for them any way we can, because we've been there." As he spoke, two Air Force F-15 fighter jets roared overhead as part of an after-parade ceremony. "That's the sound of freedom, folks!" Sowder proclaimed. Cottage Grove resident and retired Air Force Col. Terry Arnold presided at the ceremony, telling the crowd: "I guarantee you that no unit, regular or reserve, has served America better that the members of Second Battalion of the 162nd." Brig. Gen. Raymond Byrne, acting Adjutant ADJUTANT. A military officer, attached to every battalion of a regiment. It is his duty to superintend, under his superiors, all matters relating to the ordinary routine of discipline in the regiment. General of the Oregon National Guard then read a welcome home letter from President Bush. "Our troops have served brilliantly and courageously ... They have liberated tens of millions in Afghanistan and Iraq," he wrote, saying each had "answered a great call." Byrne added his own words of thanks, quoting Adlai Stevenson to praise the citizen soldiers: "True patriotism doesn't consist of short, loud outbursts, but the tranquil, sustained dedication of a lifetime." He then urged the crowd of several hundred to remember on Memorial Day "those who won't be coming home to their communities and families." Cottage Grove pastor Jim Jenkins then read the names of each person with Oregon ties - soldiers and civilians - killed in the wars in Afghanistan The term Wars in Afghanistan may refer to:
As he read each name, Arnold rang a single chime chime, in music: see bell. and Cottage Grove resident Bea Taylor released a black balloon into the overcast sky. The formal events concluded with a ceremony honoring "Gold Star Mothers" who have lost sons in the war. CAPTION(S): Sgt. Jacin Klopp of Oregon's Army National Guard rides on a float in downtown Cottage Grove with his son L.J. during a parade held Saturday to honor the veterans, some just returned from Iraq and Afghanistan. Steven Clevenger (from left), Elda Clevenger and Amanda Rose Whetten show their support for the troops. The three made the trip from Dexter to see the veterans. |
|
||||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion