Group wants to raise level of awareness of troops' needs

Thursday, June 10, 2004

By Brian Johnson

Nevada Daily Mail

It seems like now, more then ever, our troops need our support.

Since the war on Iraq began last year, the community has shown its support for the troops in many small ways -- a campaign to get people to hang yellow ribbons, prayer vigils, various drives to send packages and correspondence to soldiers, news stories on those individuals who left or returned that we knew about, but as time passes, there's been little fanfare to welcome soldiers home or to send them off, wishing them well. Family members of troops recently deployed know the community cares, but many believe a more obvious display would be greatly appreciated by soldiers.

On June 1, Nevada's National Guardsmen of Company A 735th MSB was deployed to Popular Bluff, Mo., along with another National Guard unit from Doniphan Mo. On June 3, Company A was shipped to their home base at Fort Dix, N.J. After three to four weeks at Fort Dix, it's anyone's guess on where the support unit will go.

On Wednesday night, 12 people from the Family Support Group came to the National Guard Armory in Nevada not only to support the troops, but seek ways to raise awareness in the community that their men and women are fighting overseas.

"I would like to see that this town is supporting these troops," said support member Sue Ann Morris. "We need to support them whether people agree with the war or not you can still show some support for these men."

Many of the 12 members thought folks didn't show more support to the troops when they left. Yes, there was a small send-off and a news story, but little fanfare and no community-wide event marking their departure and wishing them well.

The perceived lack of support became more obvious to the troops and their families when they heard that the unit from Doniphan, Mo., were receiving a community ceremony and parade.

But support group members discovered that one reason for the low-key departure was that few in this county knew Company A was leaving.

"Most of the people I talked to didn't have a clue they were being deployed," Morris said. "Not only didn't they know in Nevada, but they didn't know in El Dorado Springs and Lamar."

Staff Sgt. Linda Switlik agrees with Morris' assessment. "I don't personally think that people around this area don't care. I just think they're unaware. Sometimes just one or two people from your community gets deployed at a time. People were just unaware."

With seven area residents already in Iraq, the Family Support Group wants to get the word out that their community has not forgotten them.

"Nevada needs to have a welcoming home ceremony," Morris said. "We're trying to get their names out for the public to know."

During the meeting the 12 group members also tried to think of ways of raising money for Company A. Switlik, who was there to give support and answer questions said the group is thinking of selling water at the Bushwhacker parade.

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