Homecoming for 116th Stonewall Brigade ... 78 photos & 17 posts

The yellow ribbons say it all ... honoring America's heroes.

Take a photo journey to Staunton, Virginia, and see the community as it turned out to welcome the returning soldiers of the 116th Stonewall Brigade of the Virginia Army National Guard. Families, friends, school children, civic groups, Republicans, churches ... all were there for the joyous homecoming.

Check out the 17 posts and 78 photos that follow this post.

For those who have fought for it,
Freedom has a flavor the protected will never know.

Homecoming for 116th Stonewall Brigade ... thankful for a safe return from Iraq

The yellow ribbons say it all ... honoring America's heroes.

Flags line Thornrose Avenue at the Armory entrance.
Patriot Guard Riders escort the soldiers of the 116th Stonewall Brigade.

First of four charter buses bringing home the Stonewall Brigade.

Adjunct General Robert Newman arrives by helicopter.

Soldiers disembark from buses.

Soldiers and family members enter Armory for welcome home ceremony.

All paused for a prayer of thanksgiving for their safe return.

Congressman Bob Goodlatte welcomes the 116th home.

Hundreds turned out to welcome home the 116th Stonewall Brigade as they returned to the Armory in Staunton.

Congressman Bob Goodlatte as well as Staunton officials greeted them ... Augusta GOP Chairman Kurt Michael, Trixie Averill (RPV State Central), Andrea Oakes and family, Bob Campbell (candidate for City Council) ... Grace Christian School students crowded the street with signs and American flags. (One of the dads was coming home with the Stonewall Briagade; Chairman Kurt Michael's two children attend that school as well as the grandchildren of Don and Harold Reid -- the Statler Brothers.)

More stories and photos at:

- Spark It Up!!!
- College Republican Federation of Virginia blog
- Waynesboro News Virginian - Families reunite with troops
- Waynesboro News Virginian - Slide Show

- Waynesboro News Virginian - Crowd shares warm welcome

Photos by SWAC Girl

Homecoming for 116th Stonewall Brigade ... "Daddy's home"

"Daddy's home."
Homecoming for 116th Stonewall Brigade
21 February 2008

Photo by SWAC Girl

Homecoming for 116th Stonewall Brigade ... Grace Christian School turns out for classmate's dad

Grace Christian Middle School students spell out a welcome on the tennis court fence.

Grace Christian elementary students lined the street with signs and American flags.

Two middle school students hold a large American flag.

Grace Christian students made signs to welcome home the heroes.

Middle school students scramble to the top of the Tams Lake dam after soldiers arrive ... for one last flag wave before returning to classes.

Students and faculty line Thornrose Avenue at the entrance to the Armory. Grace Christian School is located directly across the street.

Elementary students proudly hold their "Welcome Home" banner.

Bundled-up students eagerly await the returning soldiers.

Elementary students line street in front of Grace Christian School.

All the students and teachers of Staunton's Grace Christian School, elementary and middle grades, turned out to welcome home the 116th Stonewall Brigade. While they were greeting all the returning heroes, there was one special soldier who was of particular interest to the school. The father of one of the students departed last May with the 116th and, after months spent halfway around the world in Iraq, he was greeted by the kids of Grace Christian. Welcome home, Mike!

Photos by SWAC Girl

Homecoming for 116th Stonewall Brigade ... a sweetheart returns

A single pink carnation on a military-issued camouflage duffle....

Photo by SWAC Girl

Homecoming for 116th Stonewall Brigade ... "Dear American Soldier"

Sign left at entrance to Armory.

The sign was hand-lettered on poster board and left at the entrance to the National Guard Armory in Staunton. Attached were two balloons and small American flags. The sign said:

Dear American Soldier:

During this difficult time please know that we stand behind you and appreciate everything you are doing for our country. When duty called, I am glad that you answered. Our hearts are with you as you walk through danger. You've put your life on the line so that others may live free. May this spirit of "Freedom" continue to guide you through these trying times and God be your pilot.

THANK YOU for your bravery and dedication as you defend our country, and for honoring our country with your service.

In case someone hasn't told you today ...

YOU ROCK!

May God continue to be with you and your families. We are proud of you ... grateful and blessed to be called AMERICANS.

Amen.

Photo by Lynn R. Mitchell

Homecoming for 116th Stonewall Brigade ... well-wishers came from other areas

Trixie Averill is a military mom who has seen her Army son deployed to Iraq three times during Operation Iraqi Freedom. Although she lives in Roanoke, she drove to Staunton to welcome home the Stonewall Brigade. She was also with us in Charlottesville last June when we stood up to Cindy Sheehan's anti-war protesters with our WIN THE WAR signs.

Photo by SWAC Girl

Homecoming for 116th Stonewall Brigade ... patriot Westies for USA!

Trixie Averill holds the leash with Katie Rose and Colin, her Westies, as newly-arrived troops give them some attention.
Augusta Chairman Kurt Michael holds Katie Rose while Trixie Averill holds Colin outside the Armory in Staunton. These patriotic dogs have welcomed home numerous troops including Trixie's Army son who has been deployed to Iraq three times during Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Homecoming for 116th Stonewall Brigade ... "you've got to have friends"

Many thanks to friends Barb and Larry Tillett, and to my husband for their help with the flags, the yellow ribbons, the bunting, and everything else that went into welcoming home our heroes. The guys are both Vietnam-era veterans (Army and Air Force) ... and they remember what it was like to have anti-war protesters meet them when they returned home. They are determined this generation will always know they are loved and appreciated by America.

We all arrived around noon and, while it was cold outside with temps in the mid 20s, the warmth of friends kept us going. Thanks, Guys! It was fun!

Photos by Lynn R. Mitchell

Homecoming for 116th Stonewall Brigade ... more photos of Grace Christian School students

Photos by SWAC Girl

Homecoming ... SWAC-GOP leadership greeted soldiers

Augusta Chairman Kurt Michael (front), Scott Sayre, Jacob Parrish, Waynesboro Chairman Chris Darden, Staunton Chairman Anne Taetzch (not pictured)

Trixie Averill and Barb Tillett

Jacob Parrish, Scott Sayre, Larry Tillett, Barb Tillett
Trixie and the "kids" -- Colin and Katie Rose.
Barb Tillett, Chris Darden, Bill Mitchell, Kurt Michael

The SWAC area Republicans turned out in force to welcome home the 116th Stonewall Brigade to the Army National Guard Armory in Staunton....

Photos by SWAC Girl

Homecoming of 116th Stonewall Brigade ... more photos

Kim Wiseman (right) with her mom.

Bob Campbell and Don Brown stand on the steps to welcome troops.
Many members of the VFW were there.
Families, friends, and well-wishers....
Fonda Gardner greets soldiers.
Kenny Oakes, Andrea Oakes, and their children were there....

The community as well as military families crowded around the chartered buses loaded with the 116th Stonewall Brigade as they arrived at the Thomas D. Howie Memorial National Guard Armory. Hundreds turned out from the SWAC area.

Photos by SWAC Girl

Homecoming for 116th Stonewall Brigade ... even more photos

One of the Patriot Guard Riders.
Entrance to Armory which adjoins Gypsy Hill Park in Staunton.
The 116th is a historic unit that dates back to the 1860s as Stonewall Jackson's unit.

Traffic control officers stand at entrance while Kiwanis hold banner in background welcoming home the troops.

Photos by SWAC Girl