HAWAII ARMY NATIONAL GUARD WELCOMES BACK SOLDIERS WITH "FREEDOM SALUTE" CEREMONY ON OAHU

For Immediate Release:  November 13, 2008

HAWAII ARMY NATIONAL GUARD WELCOMES BACK SOLDIERS WITH "FREEDOM SALUTE" CEREMONY ON OAHU
 

WHEN:           10:00 a.m., Sunday, November 16th, 2008
 

WHERE:        Pearl City Cultural Center

                        2100 Hokiekie Street, Pearl City

WHO:              Co. C, 1-207th Aviation Battalion

Light Inf. Training Team HIARNG Element, Embedded Training Team

                        1-158 Infantry

                        12th Personnel Service Detachment

WHAT:            Freedom Salute is the official Army National Guard welcome back ceremony.

The Freedom Salute Campaign is designed to publicly acknowledge Army National Guard veterans and those who supported them during the President's call to duty for recent military operations. A Freedom Salute ceremony will be held for each returning Hawaii Army National Guard unit from deployment.

More than 150 soldiers will be honored during the ceremony on Sunday at the Pearl City Cultural Center. The various units and elements have deployed to Iraq, Afghanistan and the Philippines. 
 

During the Freedom Salute Ceremony, each soldier will receive an encased American flag, a commemorative coin, a certificate of appreciation and a lapel insignia. Spouses will receive a lapel insignia while the soldier's children will be recognized and presented with a homecoming footlocker kit which includes two games, trading cards and a comic book. The warriors also nominated people and organizations that have provided "outstanding" support during their mobilization. The individuals, supervisors, and organizations nominated will receive recognition and awards as well.

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Lt. Col. Charles Anthony

Public Affairs Officer

Phone: (808) 733-4258

or

CPT Jeffrey Hickman

Deputy Public Affairs Officer

Phone: (808) 733-4258