DALTON — Lorri Harrison drove several hours with her 2-year-old granddaughter, Nevaeh, to see Nevaeh’s father last week. It was the day after Dad — Spec. Shawn Harris of Charlie Troop — arrived stateside at Fort Stewart with the rest of the 108th Calvary en route from Afghanistan.
“It’s a lot better knowing he’s here in Georgia,” Harrison said. “But even though I know he’s in Georgia, I want him home.”
That will happen today.
Charlie Troop is expected to arrive in Dalton sometime in the early- to mid-afternoon, following a five to six hour bus from ride Fort Stewart
“They’re leaving at 7 a.m., so I would guess between 1 o’clock and 3:30,” said Lt. Col. Ken Baldowski with the public information office of the Georgia Army National Guard. “They’ll be escorted by the Georgia State Patrol the whole way.”
Rick Brown of Operation Uplift was more specific.
“I’m sticking with around 2 o’clock or a little after,” he said. “They’re picking up the sheriff’s office and the Patriot Guard Riders at the rest stop below Calhoun (on I-75) at 1:30.”
The Tunnel Hill and Varnell police departments will also join the entourage below Calhoun. The troops are expected to change buses at the Kmart on Walnut Avenue, then proceed to Thornton Avenue and travel north to Crawford Street, where they will head west toward Harmon Field and the National Guard Armory.
Charlie’s company commander, Capt. Jason Lewis, and top non-commissioned officer, Sgt. 1st Class Ronnie Perryman, initially sent out e-mails last week announcing they were arriving in Dalton on Saturday. But less than 24 hours later, those plans were scrubbed and their homecoming pushed back until today.
Brown said citizens who want to volunteer — whether at K-mart or the football field — are still meeting at 12:30 (p.m.) at the armory.
“We’ll meet briefly there to discuss who’s going where and what to do, then let people go to their locations,” he said. “At this point, we’re still planning on doing the welcome home ceremony at Harmon Field (also on Crawford Street across from the armory).”
The latest weather reports have rain moving in late Tuesday after the ceremony, which is expected to take place between 2:30 and 3 p.m. Brown said Monday the ceremony is still planned for Harmon Field. Mayor David Pennington will be guest speaker, and there will also be special music.
Local News
March 9, 2010
Troops pull in today — finally
- Local News
-
-
Update: No sign of alleged double murderer
Close to 200 law enforcement officers plan to search through the night for an alleged double murderer who may have been spotted in Varnell Wednesday afternoon.
Continued ... - Teacher of the year sings through the day
- 911 call — ‘Somebody had killed him’
- Olympic hopeful’s horses killed in wreck
- ‘We are D’ sign mystery solved
- Investigation clears Dalton Middle erasures questions
- Chambliss, Graves say Congress must act to avoid big tax increase
- May 29, 2012
- Remembering once a year not enough
- Couple looks to raspberries to salvage season
- Camp AIM to hold 20th reunion
- May 28, 2012
- Stem cell treatment regrows Whitfield man’s foot
- Authorities continue to search for Neal
- MEMORIAL DAY REMEMBRANCE: Death at sea
- May 27, 2012
- Memorial Day Remembrance: ‘Just two weeks away from home’
- Southeast graduation
-
Update: No sign of alleged double murderer
Police: Seattle Cafe Gunman May Have Shot Self
No Limits for Disabled Hunters at Mich. Base
Victim Identified in Fla. Face-chewing Attack
Radioactive Bluefin Tuna Crossed the Pacific
90 Guns Seized, Dozens Arrested in Oakland
Raw Video: Hail Storm Batters Oklahoma City
6-Year-Old Going to National Spelling Bee
California's Foie Gras Ban About to Begin
Video Essay: Funky Winkerbean Comic Turns 40
Hurricane Andrew Remembered, 20 Years Later
Judge's Ruling Halts Tenn. Mosque Construction
Romney in Las Vegas on Texas Primary Day
Sister Says She Reported Brother in Patz Killing
Even Fla. Police Shocked by Face-Mauling Attack
Angry Birds Spreading Their Wings
