A story by Sgt. Mike Getten on the Nevada National Guard's website recounts the dramatic sunrise homecoming of the 1/221st Cavalry Squadron, which completed a year-long deployment to Afghanistan. About 400 soldiers marched down part of the strip before arriving at the luxurious Mandalay Bay Hotel and Casino, where a ceremony was held in front of ecstatic family and friends.
"I am really happy to be home. My son was born in December and I just held him for the first time 10 minutes ago," said Spc. Franklin Vilaseco while smiling and admiring his infant son. “We finished our mission, and now we get to spend some time getting reacquainted with our families. I couldn’t be happier.
"If it wasn’t for the support my family gave me during the deployment, it would have been a lot tougher than it was."
The squadron, which mostly deployed to Laghman province, suffered no casualties in a year in Afghanistan. As anyone who regularly reads this site knows, that is a very fortunate outcome, and a testament to the hard work and dedication of these brave soldiers.
In a city often celebrated for its sins, Las Vegas should be thanked for honoring America's true heroes in a ceremony that ended in prayer. There is no doubt that while bowing their heads, most soldiers thanked a higher power for reuniting them with their families, and asked that fellow troops still serving in the war zone receive the same blessing.
Image courtesy: Tech Sgt. Wendy Yada
Just found your blog, compliments of getting to vote in the milbloggies for the first time. I went through all of them, and I like the writing, the consistency and the thought. You've got my vote.
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Kanani
The Kitchen Dispatch
A Literary Milspouse Blog
Thank you very much, Kanani! I just cast my vote for you in the Spouse category. Please e-mail me if you are going to be at next week's MilBlog conference. I am attending and would love to say hello.
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