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Photos by Lisa Voyles
Friends and family members lined the highway in front of the Okolona National Guard Armory July 10 to welcome their soldiers home from Iraq.
The group is a detachment of the 858th based in Calhoun City and was deployed July 17, 2009. They spent the last year in Iraq, stationed at Victory Base Complex outside Baghdad.
Their projects were mostly geared toward the U.S. draw-down from Iraq, unit leaders said.
After departing the bus and greeting their families and friends, the unit gathered inside the armory for their final dismissal from their tour and words of appreciation for the Family Support Group.
The unit spent the last part of the week at Camp Shelby and was dismissed from the Okolona Armory by 1SGT Stanley McGee. They will resume drills in September.
The Family Support group is currently planning a dinner for the unit also to be held in September. Stacy Jones of the group said they plan to serve about 175 people including the soldiers and their immediate families and plans are still being organized.
“Sponsors and volunteers are always welcome,” Jones said.