The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.

Home For The Holidays!

by Dessa Rodeffer, Quill Publisher/Owner

21 December 2005

This week is an exciting time for the families of National Guard soldiers who returned home from Iraq in time for Christmas. 148 members of the "Bravo Battery" out of the Macomb returned to a roaring crowd around 3 a.m. Sunday.

Welcome home signs were along the highway to encourage the three busloads of anxious soldiers. Two fire trucks were displaying the American flag for the buses to go under as a salute to their year's service in Iraq.

Travis Burg, Jan Carpenter, Jesse Forquer, Adam Housewright, Shaun Thompson, Jared Jones and Matt Lotz, of the La Harpe area and Ryan Smith and C. J. Stull of Raritan-Stronghurst area are now enjoying family and friends, and being home for Christmas.

The soldiers most likely will not have to go back after serving there a year. Most of the guys will be enjoying three weeks off before returning to their civilian jobs.

Travis Burg dreamed about being back home with his three kids, Mallory 9, Jacob 5 1/2, Lauren 3 1/2. He told his mom, "You shouldn't have let me go shopping. I just went wild!" as he bought gifts for his children.

One Galesburg soldier was lost, Sgt. 1st Class Kyle Wehrly, 28 who died Nov. 3 when an explosive device detonated near his Humvee, and his comrades and their families feel the loss. May we all say a prayer for these families and give thanks to our soldiers who serve.