John Stolte, S. ST. Paul

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July 20, 2007

Welcome Home - A Company, 2-135th Infantry, West St. Paul, MN - 20 JUL 07

A Company of the 2nd Battalion, 35th Infantry of the 2nd Brigade Combat Team of the 34th Infantry Division returned to West St. Paul on Friday, 20 July 07. The welcome was at the church across the street from the West St. Paul Armory.

A huge thank you to these soldiers for their service, courage, integrity and sacrifice to our great country. Also, thanks to the MN National Guard “Red Bulls” for inviting us to participate in these homecomings.

An early arrival allowed time to meet Jolene (the festivities leader), Sgt. Weaver, and Zach, the manager at Menards (the staging area), and some Vietnam Veterans. Menards gave us permission to use a lot they owned that was once parking for a restaurant. Perfect, park a motorcycle and more will come. About 9 more to be specific and three cages to boot.

We originally planned to walk from the staging area to the flag line. At the briefing “Doc” Seeber suggested that the families would really enjoy seeing us ride up. A quick call to SGT Weaver for an OK and all was set. WOW! Was Doc right or what. When we drove up the cheer and applause from the gathered crowd literally took my breath away. SGT Weavers soldiers cleanly made a path and directed us to the motor pool behind the armory for parking.

When I left to plant myself at the staging area there might have been 75 or 100 people in the church parking lot. When we drove up there must have been over 500. We formed a flag line along Robert St. a little down from the church in order to not obstruct the view of the families and friends. Every time a car went by that honked, waved, or gave a thumbs up, the crowd went wild. There were people across the street waiting; people came out of local businesses to wait, and people just out for a walk stopped to wait for the returning soldiers.

We had an excellent vantage point being able to see down Robert St. quit a way. When the escort and busses were spotted not a single person was looking anywhere other that south on Robert. Before you could hear the motorcycles, the cheering started. The LEO were clearing three lanes of the four lane highway, there were squads in front, squads in back, about 10 MN PG escort cycles and 3 or 4 Highway Patrol on cycles. It was a site to behold. (Birdie, leading the escort, told me the Highway Patrol cycles decided to stay with the escort instead peeling off with the State squads. Cool.)

Once the busses were around the corner and in front of the church, we moved the flag line to just behind the crowd in the church parking lot. The soldiers unloaded from the busses and got into formation. There were a couple of quick speeches and I believe recognition to some individuals. Sorry, I’m hard of hearing and could be sure just what was happening.

Finally the moment came when the “dismissed” order was given. Hugg’n, kiss’n, hand shake’n, crying, laughing, you name it. The emotions were all out there. What a wonderful occasion and what an honor to be invited to be part of it. When most of the soldiers had left, we dismissed.

Special thanks to SGT Greg Weaver at W. St. Paul Armory and Jolene Brown for letting us know the schedule of events and how we could help out.

I’d also like to thank Nate and Dave, and the may others, for the colossal effort in planning and executing this welcome home. To pull these missions off with such excellent results deserves the highest respect.


With Respect,

John Stolte, SW Metro ARC

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