639th back today

The Daily Inter Lake

Welcome home for Guard troops begins at 2 p.m.

Organizers of the parade for the 639th Quartermaster Company of the Montana Army National Guard expect the procession to start between 2 and 2:15 p.m. today.

After a private welcome at Glacier Park International Airport at 1:30 p.m., about 120 soldiers will join their families for the procession through town. KOFI 1180 AM will broadcast updates on the progress of the entourage.

Theresa Johnston, president of the Family Readiness Group, asked that the public line Main Street with flags and banners.

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.

About 140 vehicle are expected to take part in the parade, including fire engines, police escorts and vintage jeeps, along with the soldiers and their families. At the fairgrounds there will be a final formation, presentations and refreshments.

Because of the size of the unit, the readiness group has requested that only close friends and extended family attend the Expo Building ceremonies.

"This is an exciting time for the soldiers and their families and the overwhelming support of our community is making this a memorable event," Johnston said.

The Guard members served 15 months providing food, water, vehicle maintenance and fuel in Iraq and Kuwait.

Some members of the unit received national attention when they delivered fuel to a lethal area of Iraq after the mission was refused as too dangerous by a unit from another state.