Fabens high school band welcomes home Texas Guard

Photo By Lt. Col. Deanna Bague | Students from Fabens High School practice their flag routine at Biggs Army Airfield on Sunday while waiting for the 56th Infantry Brigade Combat Team's return from Iraq.  

UNITED STATES

08.02.2009

Story by Maj. Deanna Bague 

Fort Bliss Public Affairs Office

Hundreds of troops from the 56th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, a Texas National Guard unit, landed to the sound of a Fabens High School band playing Eye of the Tiger early Sunday morning at Biggs Army Airfield.

"It feels great!" said Master Sgt. Brian Gary, from the 949th Brigade Support Battalion, 56th IBCT. "When you touch Texas soil, it's like you're home again — your feet on the ground, it's like you're on cloud nine."

More than 3,200 Texas Guardsmen are returning from Iraq after serving nine months in support of various missions to include convoy security. Members of the 56th IBCT will spend four to six days here to demobilize, outprocess and transition back to their home station, said Lt. Col. Douglas Porter, assistant future plans officer for the Mobilization and Deployment Brigade.

The students who welcomed and played for the Soldiers are on summer break. When they were notified about the event, they did not hesitate to attend band practice to prepare for the 56th IBCT's arrival, said Robert Gonzalez, band director for the Fabens High School Band. This was the first time any of the students had played for Soldiers arriving from theater, so naturally, they were very excited, added Gonzalez.

"It's not the same seeing [Soldiers] on television, then watching them get off the plane," said drum major Efren Quijas, a senior at Fabens High School. "You actually see their faces. You kind of feel what they've been through, where they come from. Even though people may not agree with what's going on they have to support the troops — figure they can go away for a year so we can wake up a little early today to make them feel special."

The students received a two-day notice and said they were nervous because they wanted to play their best for the troops.

"It was really an honor [to play] because they were in Iraq fighting for us," said band baritone Evelyn Olivas, a sophomore at Fabens High School. "I saw them coming down the [plane's] stairs and they had smiles on their faces when they saw the band — that's good. They're back home and they get to be with their families."

"I always wanted to contribute in some way to support the troops, and finally I get the chance to do it, so this is a really good day," said Evelyn.

• Date Taken: 08.02.2009
• Date Posted: 08.11.2009 15:24
• Story ID: 37382
• Location: US