What Would You Say to a Returning Iraq War Vet?
If you could speak to one of those vets face-to-face, what would you say? What kind of welcome would you give, as St. Louis prepares for Saturday's first-of-its-kind welcome home parade?
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The date and time are set: Noon on Saturday at Kiener Plaza. That's when a grassroots effort to create the first-of-its-kind welcome home parade for Iraq war veterans becomes a reality.
Will you go to the parade? If you could personally greet one of the returning war veterans, what would you say? We'd love to have your comments below. We'll compile and forward them to the parade organizers.
The parade is scheduled to travel west on Market Street to Union Station where organizers will provide a resource bank for veterans between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. There, returning sailors, soldiers, marines and airmen can find services from the Red Cross or Department of Veterans Affairs and enjoy entertainment from 3 to 8:30 p.m.
Organizer Craig Schneider, of St. Charles, told KMOX-AM that the parade is not just a way to welcome veterans back home and to say thank you. It's to help them adjust and to allow them to put their military skills back to work in the community.
The parade started with a grassroots campaign to raise money, along with support from readers of a Facebook page dedicated to the effort. That page now has more than 4,500 members. According to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, the parade organizers have received $10,000 from Anheuser-Busch and $7,500 from Mayflower to help defray expenses.
Will you attend the parade? And what would you say if you could address a single war vet, face to face?
Jim
2:24 pm on Tuesday, January 24, 2012
If we can have thousands show up for the Cardinals, then we should have at least as many for this. I'll be there with the family.
Tim H.
2:28 pm on Tuesday, January 24, 2012
We won't be able to make it to the parade but I would like to personally thank them for their personal sacrifice, time served, and awesome pledge of service to defend our country.
Daphne Madras
11:27 pm on Tuesday, January 24, 2012
My husband has been to Iraq twice for a total of 27 months and only a handful of people recognize what sacrifices he and our family had to make. I want to say thank you to those who take the 5 seconds during the day to say thank you to him!
Ed Appelbaum
5:04 am on Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Thanks for all the effort in planning this great event guys !!!
Jack Bock
11:44 am on Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Welcome home troops and thank you for your unselfish service to this great country which you have protected for the past 10 years. Good job! Our whole family will be there. Will we see you?
Solambe
1:47 pm on Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Thank you!!!
Martin L. Harris
10:06 pm on Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Thank you Sir/Ma'am (hug / handshake ) for your sacrifice, service and dedication to our Nation. We love you and support you, family and friends. You are fighting to preserve our further and the next generations freedom. As an American I'm proud to stand by you. ( Hug / Handshake ) and Welcome you home. Thank you for our Freedom. PS. My son has just completed his fourth tour. His unit is being deployed again in April. 3rd Infaniv. Fort Stewart. Georgia
David
5:11 pm on Friday, February 10, 2012
Welcome home Troopers Thank you for the cause Enjoy your family reunion!!