Lucas Oil Stadium became a sea of camouflage this afternoon as Indiana National Guard soldiers paraded around the floor waving to their family and friends in the stands."Because of you and men and women like you, you have made the world a better place," said Linton Mayor Tom Jones, representing all mayors in Indiana. "Your communities felt pride while you were in Iraq, but couldn't wait for your homecoming. Thank you for a job well done."
The celebration, free and open to the public, honored those soldiers who returned from service overseas in 2008. The two-hour event began with a parade of soldiers on the floor of the stadium, and continued with speeches, a tribute to fallen and wounded soldiers and a short concert.
"We just want this to be fun and festive to give the community a chance to say thank you to the troops, and the troops to show their appreciation back," said Sgt. Maj. Jodie Newby.
Most of the Indiana soldiers left in January 2008 in one of the biggest deployments for any state in the nation last year. Those soldiers began returning gradually to the United States around Thanksgiving, Newby said.
"This is all kind of surreal to me because this stadium wasn't even here when we left," said Sgt. 1st Class Ross Williams Sr., while standing on the floor of Lucas Oil Stadium prior to today's event. "It is a great feeling to know people are going to come out and show their appreciation.
"It means an awful lot."
| Thank you, each and every one of you. |