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March 9, 2010

Troops pull in today — finally

Mark Millican Dalton Daily Citizen

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. 

 

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