The Virgin Islands National Guard is hosting a Freedom Salute Campaign for St. Thomas personnel who deployed with the 651st GS Maintenance Company. The ceremony will take place at 3 p.m., Sunday, Jan. 11, in the Sergeant First Class Leonard B. Francis Armory, Estate Nazareth, St. Thomas. The public is invited to join the V.I. National Guard as they show appreciation for hometown heroes.
More than 90 members of the 651st GS Maintenance Company were deployed to Iraq for one year in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, where they provided security detail on supply routes as well as equipment maintenance. The company returned to the territory in April 2008.
During the ceremony, three out of eight recipients will be presented with awards that include the Meritorious Service Medal. There will be remarks by government officials and VING command-level officials. Five other guardsmen have returned to active duty on various duty missions stateside and overseas.
For further information, contact State Public Affairs Officer Sgt. 1st Class Karen Williams at 712-7750 (Friday), 719-1292 or 719-1291 (Saturday) or cell 332-5541 (Sunday).
