Ceremony to honor D.C. Army National Guard Unit returned from Afghanistan

WASHINGTON, DC (10/15/2012)(readMedia)-- A ceremony to honor approximately 70 soldiers recently returned from a 10-month long deployment to Afghanistan is slated to be held Tuesday, Oct 16th, at 9:15am at the D.C. National Guard Armory.

WHO:

DC National Guard
WHAT:

A ceremony to honor approximately 70 soldiers recently returned from a 10-month long deployment to Afghanistan
WHEN: Tuesday October 16, 2012 at 09:15AM Eastern Time (US & Canada)
WHERE: D.C. National Guard Armory
2001 East Capitol Street SE
Washington, District of Columbia 20002
NOTES:

The media is invited to attend. Please contact 1st Lt. Miranda Summers Lowe at (301) 693-3941 or Miranda.summers@us.army.mil if you plan to cover the event.

The soldiers arrived Sunday, October 14, in groups throughout the afternoon and evening. They were given a day to spend with friends and family before reporting back Tuesday for administrative processing and classes on issues such as re-integration and family support resources.

The 273rd provided military police assets while operating out of Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan. In addition, they managed a dining facility, managed mail operations for the base, conducted logistics and personnel convoys, and provided physical security details to American personnel.

Many of the service members have deployed at least once previously, some as many as three times. The soldiers endured a separation from friends and family, two of them even missing the birth of a child.

The 273rd has previously mobilized in 2002, when it provided security forces at the Pentagon and 2003, conducting detainee operations at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

The unit is held under the command of Cpt. William Demps and 1st Sgt. Rodney Butler.