Ohio National Guard unit to return home for the holidays

Ohio National Guard Public Affairs
Courtesy Story

Date: 12.18.2009
Posted: 12.18.2009 11:41
News ID: 42925

COLUMBUS, Ohio—Maj. Gen. Gregory L. Wayt, Ohio adjutant general, will honor about 325 Citizen-Soldiers of the Ohio Army National Guard's 1st Battalion, 137th Aviation Regiment, during a Dec. 22 welcome home ceremony following a yearlong tour in Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

The press and the public are invited to the ceremony at 2:30 p.m., Tues., Dec. 22, at St. John Arena, 410 Woody Hayes Drive, Columbus, Ohio 43210.

The unit, which flies UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters, spent the past year based out of Joint Base Balad and conducted more than 1,800 battlefield circulation missions, more than 500 VIP support missions, transported more than 350,000 pounds of cargo and safely and securely moved more than 53,000 passengers.

The returning Soldiers will arrive about one hour prior to the ceremony to reunite with family and friends. Media are encouraged to arrive 90 minutes prior.

Self-sustaining broadcast satellite trucks (sorry, no cars due to limited space) may park in the gravel loop on the south side of the arena. The location will provide optimum views of Soldiers reuniting with family members in the adjacent parking lot (to the west in front of the French Field House), which will be blocked off for buses with returning Soldiers). Additional parking will be available in lots south of Woody Hayes Drive and on the north side of the arena on Lane Ave.

Trucks that require power will need to park on the north side of the arena and must coordinate with Ms. Brittan Roth at St. John Arena, 614-247-6713, or by email at roth.199@osu.edu no later than noon on Monday, Dec. 21.