Crowd says welcome home

KEARNEY, Neb - Thousands of people packed the streets of Kearney to give soldiers from the city’s 1195th Transportation Company a hero’s welcome.

“It was amazing. I was on the first bus coming in and I just couldn’t believe the amount of people that came out. It was incredible,” said Spc. Michael Frakes of McCook.

Frakes was one of 140 Nebraska Army National Guardsmen who returned to Kearney Friday after an 11-month deployment to Iraq. The unit is headquartered in Kearney with detachments in Lexington and McCook.

It specializes in maintenance and transportation.

During a 30-minute welcome home ceremony at the Kearney High School gymnasium, Gov. Dave Heineman thanked soldiers for their service, and families for supporting their soldiers.

“You go through some special sacrifices and hardships, particularly during this last year. We’re grateful for what you’ve done,” he said.

Heineman also thanked the more than 180 Patriot Guard Riders who rumbled into Kearney on their motorcycles to escort the troops.

Heineman gave a special thanks to troop supporters.

“This is unbelievable, and that’s what makes it so special for these soldiers,” he said to the standing-room-only crowd.

“All they want to know is that we care about them, that we love them and that we support them, and you have demonstrated that overwhelmingly today.”

Soldiers received several standing ovations, especially when some soldiers were thanked for their second tour of duty.

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