639th soldiers come home Thursday
It's official: The 639th Quartermaster Company of the Montana Army National Guard arrives Thursday after 15 months of active duty.
A military flight will land at 1:30 p.m. Thursday at the Edwards Jet Center at Glacier Park International Airport, according to Maj. Scott Smith at Guard headquarters in Helena.
The Family Readiness Group plans to begin a parade through town shortly after the landing.
"We're going to try and push them right through," parade organizer John Gisselbrecht said.
For updated information, he suggested that people tune to KOFI 1180 AM radio.
About 120 members strong, the 639th Quartermaster Company includes soldiers from Lake, Lincoln and Flathead counties plus other areas of Montana.
An official party from the Montana National Guard will greet 639th soldiers as they exit the military aircraft on Thursday.
The Family Readiness Group has limited the airport reception to immediate family with military identification and passes. Plans call for soldiers to ride with their families along the parade route in private cars.
"We've got 130 to 140 vehicles," Gisselbrecht said.
The parade will start at the airport and head south on U.S. 2, turning south on Main Street to 11th Street West, then turn west on 11th to Fifth Avenue West. The procession goes up Fifth Avenue to Idaho Street and ends at the Expo Building at the Flathead County Fairgrounds.
A military helicopter will provide an aerial escort for the parade.
To keep the parade moving and together, families won't stop to greet friends along the parade route. Family Readiness President Theresa Johnston invites close friends to join soldiers and families at the fairgrounds.
Organizers hope for a public welcome that matches or exceeds the turnout that celebrated the return of the 495th Quartermaster Company from Iraq last April.
Public interest so far indicates another large welcome. Organizers and local media outlets were besieged with public inquiries Monday and Tuesday about the parade time and date.
Johnston expressed gratitude for the help extended the Family Readiness Group.
"The whole city and county have been more than cooperative," she said.
Reporter Candace Chase may be reached at 758-4436 or by e-mail at cchase@dailyinterlake.com