Photo By 2nd Lt. Jorge Intriago | A U.S. Soldier plays around with a young family member after returning home from...... read more read more
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COLUMBIA, S.C. - Even before the two buses rounded the corner onto the street in front of the Armory decorated with yellow ribbons, family and friends held “welcome home” signs and waved American flags in anticipation.
When the steady growl of the motorcycles from the “Patriot Guard Riders” was heard in the distance leading the buses, squeals of excitement from little ones filled the air.
Finally, the procession came into view and everyone present began cheering to the returning soldiers from South Carolina Agribusiness Development Team 48 of the South Carolina National Guard. It had been a year since the more 50 Guardsmen departed for their mission to Afghanistan.
Hundreds of family, friends and supporters waited patiently in the 59th Troop Command Armory as the solders lined up to march in and receive a heroes’ welcome. After a short ceremony, the formation was dismissed to receive long overdue hugs and tears of joy from loved ones.
Col. Glenn Skawski, the S.C. ADT 48 Commander told the crowd he received a letter from the Regional Command – Southwest Commander, Maj. Gen. Charles M. Gurganus, U.S. Marine Corps, who thanked the unit for their hard work and stated the ADT was the effort that would have the most substantial long-term effects in Afghanistan.
The unit was deployed to the Central Helmand River valley, Helmand province. They worked directly with the Director of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock on teaching such skills as irrigation, inter-cropping, pruning, fertilizer, food safety and bee keeping. They trained more than 100 Afghan famers to operate and manage cooperatives such as cotton and corn.
The Adjutant General for South Carolina, Maj. Gen. Robert. E. Livingston, Jr. thanked the families of the Guard members for sustaining the home front while their loved ones were away.
“Protecting family is the reason we go to war,” said Livingston. “It’s been a long year and the SC ADT 48 has represented our great state and nation very well.”
As the crowd dispersed, little ones had replaced holding onto banners and flags with clinging tightly to their now safely home mommy or daddy’s hand.
“These soldiers are good people who took on the burden to do good things,” said Skawski. “God bless you all and welcome home.”
| Date Taken: | 03.16.2013 |
| Date Posted: | 03.16.2013 13:36 |
| Story ID: | 103582 |
| Location: | COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA, US |
| Web Views: | 629 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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