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Springs streets fill for troops’ homecoming

Jun- 8-2004 » Filed Under: Homefront

Colorado Spings rolled out the red carpet for a contingent of Fort Carson soldiers that just returned from Iraq. This is wonderful to see, but hardly surprising for a city that's home to Fort Carson, NORAD, Peterson Air Force Base, Shriever Air Force Base and the Air Force Academy. I spent four years in the Springs going to school, so I know first-hand the respect the community has for our military men and women.

[Link to Full Article]
By JEREMY MEYER and SHANNON HOUGHTON

Tens of thousands of people filled downtown sidewalks Saturday morning, bellowing “thank you,” waving American flags and cheering for troops marching in Colorado Springs’ Welcome Home Parade.

Residents turned out en masse to celebrate its servicemen and women. Organizers estimated 80,000 people lined the streets for the two-hour parade through the heart of downtown.

Spectators wore red-white-and-blue hats, ribbons, shirts and pants. They carried signs for the troops, cried and cheered wildly as each squadron marched by.

The parade under brilliant blue skies featured 6,500 troops, mostly Fort Carson soldiers who fought in Iraq and returned this year. They undoubtedly were the stars of the show, getting wild ovations along every block.

More than 10,000 Fort Carson soldiers were sent to Iraq, and 44 died there.

The parade was appreciated.

“It was awesome,” said Sgt. Daniel Stull of the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment. “It was a great experience to have this done for us. It’s probably something I’ll end up telling my grandchildren about.”

The soldiers, dressed in fatigues, marched the 16-block route down Tejon Street and up Cascade Avenue.

The procession included more than 100 groups, including floats, community organizations, tanks, marching bands, country music bands, highschool cheerleaders and Girl Scouts. Planes, jets and helicopters flew overhead.

The event was the nation’s largest welcome home parade so far.

There is a great photo included showing the ticker-tape parade.

(via Blackfive)


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