Montana lets National Guards know they are really welcomed home

National Guard soldiers honored in Missoula
Posted: Mar 6, 2011 5:55 PM by Allyson Weller (KPAX News)

MISSOULA- The Montana National Guard honored more than 30 soldiers from the 230th Vertical Engineer Company based out of Hamilton at the Freedom Salute Ceremony.

The event took place at the Hilton Garden Inn in Missoula and welcomed back Montana soldiers who returned from combat in Afghanistan in January. The purpose of the ceremony was not only to honor them, but to help with the transition from soldier to civilian.

"This event is actually the capstone for the last two years that we have trained, were deployed, were re-deployed, and we've started to integrate back into the community and with our families," said Captain Candice Griffith.

"This is pretty important because they've had a lot of problems in the past where they have had suicide and they've had divorcees and problems within families," said Specialist Farrah Warner.

The Montana National Guard holds events 30 days, 60 days and 90 days after soldiers return home to help them integrate back into civilian life.
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National Guard soldiers honored in Missoula