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The USO was hopping on Tuesday, but it wasn’t because of normal operations.
A large-scale welcome home ceremony, sponsored by Waynesville-St. Robert, Rolla and Lebanon chambers of commerce, along with support organizations, greeted troops who had returned home from deployment during the last year.
Virgie Mahan, USO Advisory Council chair, organized the event that featured food and prizes for troops and their family members.
“The greater Fort Leonard Wood community is very supportive of Fort Leonard Wood soldiers,” Mahan said. “In the past, several of the communities and community organizations have gotten together to stage a welcome home.”
Originally planned for January, but moved because of inclement weather, the event gave soldiers a place to break away from every day life and relax.
“It’s a good thing to welcome back soldiers from deployment,” Sgt. 1st Class Patrick Felder said. “They get reacquainted with the Fort Leonard Wood community.”
Felder, and fellow soldiers Staff Sgt. Justin Lucus and Sgt. Robert Brown, are part of the 94th Engineer Battalion, Forward Support Company, which returned from a tour in Iraq in December.
“I think it’s just that they show how much support they have for us,” Lucus said, explaining what made the ceremony so welcoming. “It’s a great stress reliever. You break up the daily events, get free food and a raffle.”
That food was no easy feat, although it was made cheerfully. Tiffany Hudgell, USO operations manager, said enough hotdogs were prepared to feed 1,000 people and work began at 11 a.m., although the event didn’t start until after 3 p.m. Chips, soda and ice cream was also served to those in attendance.
USO volunteers prepared the meal, while it was made possible through donations from the area and surrounding chambers of commerce, Hudgell said.
“I had great support from our volunteers, so it all worked out,” Hudgell said, adding that she felt the event was a success.
Maj. Gen. Gregg Martin also gave his own welcome to troops and acknowledged the support that comes from those in the community.
“This is the most supportive area that me and Command Sgt. Maj. Hayes have ever seen,” Martin said. “The people around here really care about you guys and everything you do.”
Thanking them for their service, Martin shared that the world now is a tough place.
“It is a dangerous world and the bad guys want to bring the fight here,” he said. “Your valor and what you’ve done on the battlefields... good job. Very well done. I appreciate it. You all have a very amazing story to tell and I encourage you to go out there and tell your story... our country needs to hear that. And you are remarkable people.”
Giving the final welcome home, Martin encouraged troops to relax and enjoy their time.
That was an easy command to follow for many, including Spc. Matt Shelton, who also recently returned from Iraq.
“I think it’s nice,” he said of the event. “I think it’s a good thing.”
Several baskets put together by donations from many businesses through their respective chambers were given away during a door prize raffle, as well.
The last large-scale welcome home was done in 2006 for the 5th Engineer Battalion.
The USO was hopping on Tuesday, but it wasn’t because of normal operations.
A large-scale welcome home ceremony, sponsored by Waynesville-St. Robert, Rolla and Lebanon chambers of commerce, along with support organizations, greeted troops who had returned home from deployment during the last year.
Virgie Mahan, USO Advisory Council chair, organized the event that featured food and prizes for troops and their family members.
“The greater Fort Leonard Wood community is very supportive of Fort Leonard Wood soldiers,” Mahan said. “In the past, several of the communities and community organizations have gotten together to stage a welcome home.”
Originally planned for January, but moved because of inclement weather, the event gave soldiers a place to break away from every day life and relax.
“It’s a good thing to welcome back soldiers from deployment,” Sgt. 1st Class Patrick Felder said. “They get reacquainted with the Fort Leonard Wood community.”
Felder, and fellow soldiers Staff Sgt. Justin Lucus and Sgt. Robert Brown, are part of the 94th Engineer Battalion, Forward Support Company, which returned from a tour in Iraq in December.
“I think it’s just that they show how much support they have for us,” Lucus said, explaining what made the ceremony so welcoming. “It’s a great stress reliever. You break up the daily events, get free food and a raffle.”
That food was no easy feat, although it was made cheerfully. Tiffany Hudgell, USO operations manager, said enough hotdogs were prepared to feed 1,000 people and work began at 11 a.m., although the event didn’t start until after 3 p.m. Chips, soda and ice cream was also served to those in attendance.
USO volunteers prepared the meal, while it was made possible through donations from the area and surrounding chambers of commerce, Hudgell said.
“I had great support from our volunteers, so it all worked out,” Hudgell said, adding that she felt the event was a success.
Maj. Gen. Gregg Martin also gave his own welcome to troops and acknowledged the support that comes from those in the community.
“This is the most supportive area that me and Command Sgt. Maj. Hayes have ever seen,” Martin said. “The people around here really care about you guys and everything you do.”
Thanking them for their service, Martin shared that the world now is a tough place.
“It is a dangerous world and the bad guys want to bring the fight here,” he said. “Your valor and what you’ve done on the battlefields... good job. Very well done. I appreciate it. You all have a very amazing story to tell and I encourage you to go out there and tell your story... our country needs to hear that. And you are remarkable people.”
Giving the final welcome home, Martin encouraged troops to relax and enjoy their time.
That was an easy command to follow for many, including Spc. Matt Shelton, who also recently returned from Iraq.
“I think it’s nice,” he said of the event. “I think it’s a good thing.”
Several baskets put together by donations from many businesses through their respective chambers were given away during a door prize raffle, as well.
The last large-scale welcome home was done in 2006 for the 5th Engineer Battalion.
