Politics from the Palouse to Puget Sound

Monday, June 16, 2008

"'Nothing but support'; Community members rally around National Guard members preparing for deployment to Iraq"

This is what it's all about:
Matthew Holt's father served in the Vietnam War and was mocked, yelled at and even spit on when he returned to the United States.

"It was enough to make your blood boil," said Holt, a 28-year-old Pullman resident and specialist in the Washington National Guard.

Holt admits he was a bit worried about enduring similar abuse when he suited up to fight in the current - and similarly controversial - war in Iraq.

He has been pleasantly surprised.

"It's not happening. There's none of that," said Holt, who served in Iraq from February 2004 to March 2005. "I get nothing but support."
From today's Moscow-Pullman Daily News:
Matthew Holt's father served in the Vietnam War and was mocked, yelled at and even spit on when he returned to the United States.

"It was enough to make your blood boil," said Holt, a 28-year-old Pullman resident and specialist in the Washington National Guard.

Holt admits he was a bit worried about enduring similar abuse when he suited up to fight in the current - and similarly controversial - war in Iraq.

He has been pleasantly surprised.

"It's not happening. There's none of that," said Holt, who served in Iraq from February 2004 to March 2005. "I get nothing but support."

Holt was one of several uniformed soldiers who attended a rally Saturday at Pullman's Reaney Park. The event was organized to support the men and women from communities throughout Washington and California that make up the 2,800-member 81st Heavy Brigade Combat Team, which is slated for deployment sometime this fall. The troops will begin training in Yakima next month.

About 80 community members attended the event, which featured cake, red, white and blue balloons and plenty of patriotic music. Event organizer Rebecca Schwartz of Pullman said she began to feel compassion for U.S. troops during the Persian Gulf War in the early 1990s. Despite having no immediate friends or family fighting overseas, Schwartz worked to connect with the troops through letters and care packages. She has continued her support throughout the current war effort.

"I just have a tremendous admiration of the men in uniform. They do so much, the least we can do is say, 'thank you,' " she said.

Schwartz also is working to coordinate letters and packages to be sent to the deployed soldiers, along with support and help for their families back home.

Holt said he remembers the letters sent to him during his first deployment, one of which was written on a Basilio's napkin.

"It really meant a lot," he said. "Public support is really important."

Sgt. Nathan Peabody, a 25-year-old Spokane resident, traveled to Pullman with his family for the Saturday rally.

"If people are going to come out and show support for us, we want to come show support for them, too," he said.

Peabody served in Iraq from 2004-2005. He said he feels a bit more prepared for his next deployment, but it will be different this time around because he'll have two young children at home to think about.

"It definitely makes it hit home more," he said.

Kyle White, 34, of Colton, said leaving his young children will be the hardest part during his first deployment to Iraq.

"The difficult part is leaving the family, but I've got a second family in the Army," he said.

White said the rally helped him prepare to leave, and let him know he's supported by people at home.

"This is really cool," he said. "And it's a beautiful day - finally."

Pullman Mayor Glenn Johnson spoke at the event, proclaiming his support for the men and women in uniform. He added that National Guard soldiers have been an essential part of the local community, "but they've had a higher calling to go to Iraq."

"You have our support not only now, but when you're there," he said. "You will be in our prayers."

  • For more information about providing support to troops or aiding their families in the Pullman area, contact Schwartz at rls@turbonet.com.
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