Second wave of soldiers return to Connellsville
CONNELLSVILLE – A second wave of National Guardsmen that have served a year-long tour of duty in Iraq, will return home today. Sgt. Arnold Perkins, spokesman for Company B, 1st Battalion, 103rd Armor unit, based in Connellsville, said that the war veterans will arrive in the city between 2:30 and 3:30 p.m.
The soldiers will be greeted in New Stanton by the American Legion Riders and escorted to Martin’s Food Market where they will be joined by area fire and police departments and escorted to the National Guard Readiness Center in Connellsville Township.
Perkins said that the parade route will be from Martin’s to Crawford Avenue to Route 711 to Rockridge Road, and ending at the readiness center.
Sixty-three members of the unit were deployed to Iraq following extensive training in preparation for the service.
Last week 31 soldiers returned to the readiness center that now serves as a training site for the unit.
Don Burkholder, Connellsville Veterans Commission president, said the return on Veterans Day is befitting to the troops.
“We’re glad to have them home safe and sound,” he said.