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June 13, 2009
NJ National Guard 50th Infantry Brigade Combat Team Returns Home From Iraq
Sgt. 1st Class Shawnn Frey of Langhorn, PA playing with her 3 year old daughter Liberty
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Crowds line the street as hundreds of New Jersey National Guard soldiers march in a parade through downtown Trenton, N.J., Friday, June 12, 2009, to honor their return from Iraq.
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Hundreds of New Jersey National Guard soldiers fill the street to march in a parade through downtown Trenton, N.J., Friday, June 12, 2009, to honor their return from Iraq
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NJ National Guard 50th Infantry Brigade Combat Team returns home from Iraq
TRENTON, N.J.
Little Jewel Moore thought her daddy lived inside the computer. That's because since she was 3 months old, he did. And Moore, one of the 2,900 New Jersey National Guard soldiers back from Iraq .
This was the largest deployment of New Jersey National Guard troops to a combat zone since World War II.
Soldiers were greeted with cheers Friday as they marched through the streets of the state capital in a welcome home parade. A 19-gun salute signaled the start of a parade through downtown Trenton.
In front of the newly finished World War II memorial outside the Statehouse, soldiers were greeted by Gov. Jon S. Corzine and Maj. Gen. Glenn Rieth, who told them the state would never forget their service or needs going forward.
"We'll make sure your transition back is as successful as your service to us has been," Corzine said.
The parade ended at Sovereign Bank Arena where guardsmen were treated to a USO show that included performances by comedian Joe Piscopo of "Saturday Night Live" fame and other local entertainers.
Also welcoming ithem home, were cheerleaders from three of the areas professional football and basketball teams.
Volunteers from many groups including the USO, The Salvation Army, The Red Cross, and The American Recreational Military Services served free food and beverages during the day long celebration.
"You are the blessing in 'God Bless America,'" Newark Mayor Cory Booker told the troops at the arena. "We welcome you home and tell you that you are not home alone."
Inside the Sovereign Bank Arena since 9:30 a.m., approximately 5,000 parents, girlfriends and children of soldiers gathered and watched the parade on the screens of the sports arena.
And then, finally, the soldiers filed in, vigorously waving the flags of their companies. Booming music, like the theme to the movie Star Wars, blasted over the stadium speakers.
Loved ones in the stands screamed as they recognized husbands, fathers, wives, sons and daughters in the sea of light-brown uniforms. Soldiers waved back. Some in the stands had tears in their eyes as cameras flashed.
VIDEO of yesterday and the Welcome Home
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Wild Thing's comment......
Welcome Home! God bless each one of you! Thank you!
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.....Thank you John G. for sending this to me.
Posted by Wild Thing at June 13, 2009 06:48 AM
Comments
Thanks, brings a lump to the chest and a tear to the eye. Welcome home!!!
Posted by: Jack at June 13, 2009 02:49 PM
Thanks troops. I bet having to listen to a speech by Gov Corzine was worse than being deployed.
Posted by: TomR at June 13, 2009 02:55 PM
Jack, nodding yes it is a special thing
they did for our returning heroes. I wish
every one of them had this in every town
and city for every war.
Posted by: Wild Thing at June 13, 2009 07:34 PM
Tom, LOL oh I bedt you are sooooo
right. He is one horrible Gov.
And you just know it only used
this for political purposes. augh
Posted by: Wild Thing at June 13, 2009 07:35 PM
My husband was one of the soldiers returning and believe me Corzine didn't care about us at all while he was away. Our unit had a holiday party in Dec. and he was supposed to come in the 4 hours that the party was going on he never even called to say he couldn't come. Sent an email to our FSO 2 weeks later with a lame excuse about over booking his calendar.
Posted by: Sara at June 15, 2009 05:16 PM
