Kentucky Army National Guard Public Affairs Office
Kentucky Army National Guard honors soldiers and their families with Freedom Salutes

Kentucky Army National Guard honors soldiers and their families with Freedom Salute ceremony

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                        June 9, 2006

CONTACT:  David Altom, 502-607-1562, cell 502-229-3227

FRANKFORT, KY – The Kentucky Army National Guard will host "Freedom Salute" ceremonies this weekend for the following units:

SATURDAY

RICHMOND
617th Military Police Company
Sat. June 10,  2006 at 10 a.m. EDT
Alumni Coliseum, Eastern Kentucky University in Richmond, Ky. 

SUNDAY

BOWLING GREEN
Detachment 1, 617th Military Police Company
Sun. June 11,  2006 at 10 a.m. CDT
Warren Central High School, 559 Morgantown Road, Bowling Green, Ky.
 

JACKSON                    
299th Chemical Company
Sun. June 11, 10 a.m. EDT
Kentucky Army National Guard Armory, 651 Armory Drive, Jackson, Ky.
 

HAZARD
Company B, 206th Engineer Battalion
Sun. June 11,  1 p.m. EDT
Kentucky Army National Guard Armory, 782 Dawahare Drive, Hazard, Ky. 
 

FREEDOM SALUTE HISTORY:  In December of 2003, the Army National Guard launched the "Freedom Salute Campaign," an unprecedented program designed to recognize Army National Guard Soldiers as well as their families and others who have supported them as they answered the call to duty both at home and abroad.

Each Soldier who mobilized will receive an encased American Flag; a sequentially numbered commemorative coin; a "Defender of Freedom" certificate signed by Lt. Gen. Clyde A. Vaughn, Director of the Army National Guard, and Command Sgt. Maj. John Gipe, Command Sergeant Major, Army National Guard; and a lapel insignia. The Soldier's spouse and children also will receive items recognizing their support and contribution.

In addition, each deployed Soldier is given the opportunity to recognize one individual or organization for outstanding support during the Soldier's mobilization. This recognition will be in the form of a commemorative lapel insignia and a medallion with ribbon. Two individuals will be surprised with these awards during the ceremony. 

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