Freedom Salute planned for Iraqi war veterans at the Armory Friday

WASHINGTON, DC (05/19/2010)(readMedia)-- A heroes' welcome including a keynote speech by Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.) will be part of a Freedom Salute at 9 a.m. Friday, May 21, for members of the 547th Transportation Co. and the 104th Maintenance Detachment who recently returned from a yearlong deployment to Iraq.

Event: Freedom Salute for 547th Transportation Co. and 104th Maintenance Detachment

Date/Time: Friday, May 21 - 9 a.m.

Location: D.C. National Guard Armory, 2001 East Capitol Street, Washington, D.C., 20003

For some of the soldiers, this was their third deployment to Iraq since Sept.11, 2001. The 547th first deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom fromApril 2003 to April 2004. During that mobilization, a member of the 547th, Spec. Darryl Dent, was killed from an IED attack. A platoon from the 547thalso deployed from September 2006 to September 2007.

The 104th Maintenance was called to active duty in February 2003. This time, the 547th and 104th deployed to Balad, Iraq together where they performed security duties.

The event is open to the media.