HAWAII NATIONAL GUARD WELCOMES BACK SOLDIERS WITH "FREEDOM SALUTE" CEREMONY IN HILO
Media Advisory- November 7, 2008
For Immediate Release November 7, 2008
HAWAII NATIONAL GUARD WELCOMES BACK SOLDIERS WITH "FREEDOM SALUTE" CEREMONY IN HILO
WHEN: 2:30 p.m., Saturday, November 8th, 2008
WHERE: Army Aviation Support Facility
1046 Leilani Street, Hilo
WHO: Co. C, 1-207th Aviation Battalion- Hawaii Army National Guard (HIARNG)
Light Inf. Training Team HIARNG Element, Embedded Training Team (HIARNG)
Joint Special Operations Task Force- Philippines (HIARNG)
1-158 Infantry (HIARNG)
291st Combat Communications Squadron (Hawaii Air National Guard)
WHAT: Freedom Salute is the official National Guard welcome back ceremony. The Freedom Salute Campaign is designed to publicly acknowledge 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 National Guard unit from deployment.
About 50 soldiers and airmen will be honored during the ceremony on Saturday at the Army National Guard facility. The various units and elements have deployed to Iraq, Afghanistan, the United Arab Emirates and the Philippines.
During the Freedom Salute Ceremony, each soldier and airmen will receive an encased American flag, a commemorative coin, a certificate of appreciation and a lapel insignia. The spouse 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
