D.C. Army Guardsmen to be honored for service overseas

WASHINGTON, DC (08/20/2015)(readMedia)-- A welcome home ceremony, called a Freedom Salute, for soldiers of the District of Columbia Army National Guard's 276th Military Police Company will be at 10 a.m. Friday at the D.C. Armory.

What: Freedom Salute for 276th Military Police Co.

When: Friday, August 21 at 10 a.m.

Where: D.C. National Guard Armory, 2001 E. Capital Street, Washington, D.C. 20003

The D.C. Guard Soldiers recently returned after a nearly one-year deployment to Camp Arifjan, Kuwait. While overseas, the unit assisted in managing the Theater Field Detention Facility. They provided care and detention of prisoners, coordinated transportation, and escorted prisoners to the U.S. from Kuwait.

"We're glad to be home," said Maj. Yolanda Lee, commander of the 276th. "It was a very successful deployment and our Soldiers came back with some great experience that made them well prepared for missions in the future."

Lee said the more than 30 Soldiers that returned this summer were the first of a two-part deployment to the detention facility. Another group of Soldiers from the 276th deployed to Camp Arifijan in April as replacements.

Toward the end of their deployment in Kuwait, Lee said her unit was asked to support a high-profile mission in Iraq. Nine of her Soldiers were chosen to support the U.S. Army Special Operations Forces mission, she said. These Soldiers have also returned home.

The 276th Military Police Company was previously called to active duty in 2003 to perform security operations at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling.