Cedartown welcomes returning troops
Mar 09, 2010 | 1377 views | 2 
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A little over a year after a send-off parade for the 108th Cavalry D Company, residents of Cedartown lined Main Street again to welcome the troops back after a year-long deployment in Afghanistan.
Many supporters turned out, including troops’ family members and others people who just wanted to show support. The Cedartown Fire Department hung a large American flag over Main Street as a way to welcome the troops home. Additionally, they handed out smaller flags to the crowd.
Because of the troops coming from the east on Hwy. 278, and making stops along the way, supporters were not actually sure what time the troops would come through Cedartown. That did not damper spirits, however, as the enthusiastic crowd finally got their chance to welcome home the troops at about 2 p.m.
The family of Sgt. 1st Class Phil Padgett came all the way from Dalton to welcome him home, and they arrived almost two hours early. The family said that Padgett has been in the National Guard for 30 years. They were all very excited to see him.
“We’re very proud of him,” said Padgett’s mother-in-law, Martha Cleary.
Jordan Pierson, of Cedartown, brought his daughter Elizabeth to the parade not because they had a family member returning, but because they wanted to “show support for the troops,” Pierson said.
The parade began with a large group of motorcyclists, followed by the Cedartown High School Marching Band. The main event followed, as the troops rolled through on flat-bed trucks, waving to the jubilant crowd.
The 108th is the largest of Georgia's 48th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, and have headquarters in Calhoun. Other 108th units are stationed in Rome (Troop A), Dalton (Troop B) and Canton (Troop C), and Cedartown's Company D, 148th Forward Support Company, which provides logistics support to the cavalry.
The 108th's troopers are among the more than 2,000 Citizen-Soldiers who left in June 2009 to spend a year supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. Their mission was to train and mentor the Afghan National army and National Police.
"I think if you ask any one of us, we're really proud of the work we did over there, but someone like me, being back, well it's a great weight off my shoulders," said Sgt. 1st Class Joe Dyer, who leads Troop A's third platoon, and is an employee of the Polk County Sheriff’s Office. "As a leader I'm not only concerned about getting the mission done right, I'm concerned about the safety of my soldiers. I thank the Lord that I'm lucky enough not to have lost anyone over there, and that they're all home now, safe and sound."
Now that 1st Squadron, 108th Cavalry is back on home soil, it'll take a little more than a week for its soldiers to come off active duty and move back to their traditional Guard status. Once that's done, they report to their armories, and then home for some well earned off time.
(photos by Todd Ollis/thepolkfishwrap.com)
Many supporters turned out, including troops’ family members and others people who just wanted to show support. The Cedartown Fire Department hung a large American flag over Main Street as a way to welcome the troops home. Additionally, they handed out smaller flags to the crowd.
Because of the troops coming from the east on Hwy. 278, and making stops along the way, supporters were not actually sure what time the troops would come through Cedartown. That did not damper spirits, however, as the enthusiastic crowd finally got their chance to welcome home the troops at about 2 p.m.
The family of Sgt. 1st Class Phil Padgett came all the way from Dalton to welcome him home, and they arrived almost two hours early. The family said that Padgett has been in the National Guard for 30 years. They were all very excited to see him.
“We’re very proud of him,” said Padgett’s mother-in-law, Martha Cleary.
Jordan Pierson, of Cedartown, brought his daughter Elizabeth to the parade not because they had a family member returning, but because they wanted to “show support for the troops,” Pierson said.
The parade began with a large group of motorcyclists, followed by the Cedartown High School Marching Band. The main event followed, as the troops rolled through on flat-bed trucks, waving to the jubilant crowd.
The 108th is the largest of Georgia's 48th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, and have headquarters in Calhoun. Other 108th units are stationed in Rome (Troop A), Dalton (Troop B) and Canton (Troop C), and Cedartown's Company D, 148th Forward Support Company, which provides logistics support to the cavalry.
The 108th's troopers are among the more than 2,000 Citizen-Soldiers who left in June 2009 to spend a year supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. Their mission was to train and mentor the Afghan National army and National Police.
"I think if you ask any one of us, we're really proud of the work we did over there, but someone like me, being back, well it's a great weight off my shoulders," said Sgt. 1st Class Joe Dyer, who leads Troop A's third platoon, and is an employee of the Polk County Sheriff’s Office. "As a leader I'm not only concerned about getting the mission done right, I'm concerned about the safety of my soldiers. I thank the Lord that I'm lucky enough not to have lost anyone over there, and that they're all home now, safe and sound."
Now that 1st Squadron, 108th Cavalry is back on home soil, it'll take a little more than a week for its soldiers to come off active duty and move back to their traditional Guard status. Once that's done, they report to their armories, and then home for some well earned off time.
(photos by Todd Ollis/thepolkfishwrap.com)
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Great photos, Todd! The story was excellent also. I love the one of the troops on the flatbed with the courthouse in the background.