Articles 7.22.2005

The Peublo Chieftain, CO, has an article on the arrival of the 1st Flight of 2nd BCT Soldiers. Several family members are quoted at the welcome reception.
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Blog author's note: I am updating this blog following the arrival of the 2nd Flight and before the welcome ceremony. About 150 people were waiting outside the main gate of Ft. Carson at 5:30 a.m. Welcome signs hung from trees along the route. Four charter buses passed through the gate with police escorts, each of the buses painted to announce the arrival of the 2nd BCT. Families cheered and jumped up and down and took pictures of the Soldiers, and some of the Soldiers waved and took pictures right back at us. Of the few faces I could see on the buses, tiredness and relief were the emotions that were most evident. After enterting the gate, fire engines shot water in big arcs across the road in tribute. We have been told that there will be about two additional hours of in-processing, and then the welcome ceremony will be held. The 3rd flight is scheduled to land this evening, with the ceremony expected to be held shortly after midnight.
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Other articles from the region:
- Associated Press: Pentagon Cites Progress in Iraq Democracy
- NY Times (reg req'd): Iraqis Not Ready to Fight Rebels on Their Own, U.S. Says
- Washington Post (reg req'd): Sunni Faction Halts Work on Iraqi Charter