Families await homecoming
Newly painted posters will help welcome National GuardBy MICHAEL H. BABCOCK, DMG Writer
Article Photos
CALUMET - The day has been nearly two years in the making, and is now rapidly approaching. Early next week, the soldiers from the Calumet-based 1431st Sapper Company of the National Guard's 107th Engineering Battalion will be coming home.
"It looks like it will be before Thanksgiving," Deputy Public Affairs Officer Captain Corissa Barton said. "They are all in the United States right now, it's just a matter of them outprocessing from Mississippi and getting here."
Barton said logistics are making the exact day unclear, and she said they might bring the soldiers up in two groups, leading to two homecoming ceremonies.
While the date is almost here, families are still anxiously awaiting, and Thursday night many of the families gathered for what ended up being a therapeutic poster-making session.
"Tonight (Thursday) is just helping us get through these last few days," said Stacey Corrigan, who helped organize the event. "Everybody has a lot of anxiety and we all just want to get together and talk about how tough the year has been and how it's over now."
Many mothers, wives, friends, children and other family members used whatever tools they could find to write welcoming messages.
That included Kori McPherson, wife of Mitchell McPherson.
"It's nice to have everyone together that feels the same way," she said. "We're all excited for the guys to come home."
Kori and Mitchell have two kids, 3-year old Rhyan and Mazie, who was born in September.
"Who's coming home?" Kori asked little Rhyan, who quickly answered "Dada!"
Kori said little Rhyan has been doing a victory dance every day in excitement for her father's homecoming.
Pam Dessellier made a poster for her son Josh.
"I'm in relief that their year is over and that they'll be home safe soon," Dessellier said. "I'll just be glad to just sit and talk with him."
Joye Battisfore is on her second stint awaiting her husband, Joe, who also served in Iraq in 2005.
"I've been with my husband for 16 years now, and I'm used to him being gone, but it's different now with kids," she said. "It will be exciting to see how 5-year-old Hunter reacts, because he's really excited. The last time he was just a baby."
While Battisfore was excited about the posters, she is hoping the entire community will come together to support the troops. Battisfore sent a letter Thursday urging businesses and organizations to make signs that will welcome the soldiers.
"I just want the guys to have a nice welcome home," she said. "I want them to know they're appreciated and that the entire community appreciates what they did."
Michael H. Babcock can be reached at mbabcock@mininggazette.com.
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calumetlove
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11-20-09 6:42 PM
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Welcome home, Welcome home, Welcome home AND 'Thank You'
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favorite
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11-20-09 3:48 PM
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Welcome home...a lot of lives were save by the work you've done....
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Abides
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11-20-09 10:53 AM
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welcome home!
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