Area guardsmen honored at Freedom Salute Ceremony

Rector area National Guardsmen who have served overseas in Operation Iraqi Freedom were among hundreds of Arkansas soldiers of the 2nd Battalion, 153rd Infantry, 39th Brigade Combat Team honored Sunday afternoon, May 3, in a Freedom Salute Ceremony held at Benson Auditorium on the campus of Harding University at Searcy.

Known as the Gunslingers, the men and women received praise in remarks by Battalion Commander John M. Stewart and from Arkansas National Guard Adjutant General William D. Wofford for their professionalism and precision in their work.

Stewart noted the soldiers, many of whom had served two or three times in Iraq, had driven more than 2.5 million miles in security missions and often worked 12 to 16 hours a day seven days a week.

"Their sacrifice is overwhelming," said Stewart. "But they can't do this on their own. The only thing more difficult than being a soldier is being someone who loves a soldier."

In that vein, the hundreds of family members and friends of the soldiers on hand for the event were recognized and received applause along with the soldiers.

Rector Mayor Ron Kemp was part of the official party which lined up on stage to greet each member of Alpha Company (Walnut Ridge/Rector) as the soldiers were recognized individually and received awards and gifts.

Mayors from Forrest City, Brinkley and Searcy also took part in the program as soldiers from HHC (Searcy/Wynne), Bravo Company (Batesville/Augusta), Charlie Company (Forrest City/Brinkley), Delta Company (Newport) and Foxtrot Company (Cabot/Beebe) also received individual recognition.

Others in the official party were Alpha Company Commander Cpt. Benjamin Vincent, HHC Commander Cpt. Travis Goodwin, Bravo Company Commander Cpt. Danny Chism, Charlie Company Commander Cpt. Justin Bodecker, Delta Company Commander Cpt. Bryan Kieffer and Foxtrot Company Commander Cpt. Isaac Shields.

The program began with a video prepared by the HHC. All present stood for the entrance of the official party, the presentation of colors, the National Anthem and the invocation.

Opening remarks were by Maj. Greg Pelts, who served as emcee. During the presentation of awards, the soldiers were grouped by company and by the number of times they have served overseas.

Center of Influence awards were presented to several who have been a special help to the 39th Brigade Combat Team in some way. In a special pinning ceremony, soldiers who have returned from their first tour overseas gave recognition to their wives.

The program closed with the Army Song and the benediction.