Community ready for battalion's homecoming after duty in Iraq

Yellow ribbons and patriotic signs were tied and taped to utility poles along Kingshighway, Mount Auburn Road and Independence Street, the path to Cape Girardeau's National Guard armory, Monday morning.

Banners, some from day cares and schools, arrived periodically and were placed on a folding table until time could be found to hang them. Cookies and other goodies from area churches arrived as well.

Less than 24 hours away from the 1140th Engineer Battalion's homecoming, most of the planning had been done. It was just a matter of waiting.

Meanwhile, back in a small office on the east side of the building, four men sat around a table talking on speaker phones with officers from Fort Riley, Kan., still trying to find out the 1140th Engineer Battalion's schedule.

By 11 a.m., after placing several phone calls, the four men finally arrived at an educated guess as to the time of the 1140th's homecoming. The buses to Perryville, Cape Girardeau and Sikeston will leave at staggered times. All were to arrive home at around 6 a.m. today, give or take an hour.

Approximately 430 men from the 1140th are returning today after more than a year away from their families. The armories will open at 5 a.m. except in Perryville, where the armory will open at 4 a.m.

John Miller, the family support leader, says the guys are tired and just want to go home. He said the men preferred not to have a welcome-home ceremony. There will be, however, a few remarks and a welcome home when the men arrive.

Brig. Gen. Michael Pace will briefly address the troops in Cape Girardeau this morning. Col. Paul Rusinko will say a few words in Perryville.

Miller said all the companies with the exception of Sikeston will have an "official" homecoming ceremony in a few weeks. Miller said Sikeston planned for a bigger ceremony at 4 p.m. today.