Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Celebration planned to welcome soldiers

Soldiers from the Arkansas National Guard will be given a proper welcome home Wednesday, March 23.

The Prescott-Nevada County Chamber of Commerce is sponsoring the welcome home for the troops.

Activities will begin with lunch for the men at the National Guard armory from 12-1 p.m. This is sponsored by State Sen. Percy Malone.

At 2:30 Prescott Mayor Howard Taylor will open the ceremony at the Prescott-Nevada County Library with a few comments. Taylor will sign a proclamation declaring March 23 a day in honor of the troops for their time and sacrifice.

Then the flag placed there in honor of the 39th Brigade when they left will be removed. The men will march to the Nevada County Courthouse following the traditional parade route.

Citizens are asked to line the street as the men march to the courthouse, then fall in behind them for the rest of the ceremonies. The soldiers will see yellow ribbons on every light post as they march from the library to the courthouse.

Joe Graham, Chamber president, will start the festivities at the courthouse at 3 p.m. He will recognize other veterans as well as those returning from Iraq.

Prayer will be given by Tony Hamilton, pastor of the Prescott Church of Christ. This will be followed by a moment of silence.

Brandi Karlovec will sing the national anthem, and remarks will be made by state, local and federal dignitaries. Malone and Representatives Tommy Roebuck and Chris Thomason have been invited to speak, as has Congressman Mike Ross. Capt. Neil Mayo of the 39th will also speak.

"We want this to be a special day for them and their families," Mary Godwin, executive director of the Chamber said. "It's a small thing to do to say thinks and that our thoughts and prayers have been with them so they would all return safely."

The ceremony will conclude with the troops removing the yellow ribbon on the courthouse steps. The ribbon was placed there when the troops were deployed to Iraq.