August 20, 2008 01:03 am
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Staff reports
If all goes as planned, 54 Enid troops with the 45th Fires Brigade of Oklahoma National Guard will see hundreds of well-wishers lining their route today as they leave town for Fort Hood, Texas.
The soldiers will leave the armory, 600 E. Elm, at 2 p.m.
Recruiter Staff Sgt. Cale Grauberger has been working the last few days to organize a big send-off for the soldiers. The troops will train in Fort Hood for about three months before deploying to Iraq to handle convoy security missions. They will be deployed for one year.
“We’ve had great support from local businesses on doing this,” Grauberger said. “I want to encourage people to come out.”
Well-wishers may have to include umbrellas in their plans to line the streets. Today’s forecast calls for a 50 percent chance of showers or thunderstorms. Grauberger hopes the threat of rain won’t keep well-wishers away.
“If they can just come out and see them off, they can dry off later,” he said. “The soldiers deserve this.”
Volunteers have plans to escort the soldiers and to line the streets with flags and patriotic signs. AMBUCS and Civitan clubs will be donating flags to line the route. Grauberger said organizations will have bottled water available for people who come out to say goodbye.
The Enid News & Eagle and other sponsors have provided a patriotic sign in today’s newspaper for people to hold up as the troops go by.
“The sign is printed on Page B12, which is the back of a section. People can bring that section and hold it up supporting the troops,” said Cindy Allen, managing editor.
A group of local motorcyclists also will escort the bus at least as far as Interstate 35. Grauberger said he’d like to see as many as 200 motorcycles involved. A group will organize at Save-A-Lot parking lot at 12:30 p.m. and will ride as a group to the armory. The motorcycles will ride behind the bus.
Aircraft Structures International, located at Enid Woodring Regional Airport, is organizing an event to provide hot dogs, chips and pop at its facility at the airport for people who come out to show their support. Mid-America Wholesale, Woodring, Jumbo Foods, Sara Lee and Atwoods also are helping with the event.
Residents of the Garber-Covington area will be around the overpass at the U.S. 412-Oklahoma 74 intersection. There will be at least 100 flags lining the highway and a banner on the overpass.
The bus route will go from the armory to Randolph, then west to Grand, south to U.S. 412 (East Garriott) and east to I-35.
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