1161st company leaves for Iraq

EPHRATA — Members of Ephrata’s 1161st Transportation company boarded a bus in Ephrata as family and friends watched in below freezing temperatures.

The National Guard company left for Iraq on Wednesday after having a breakfast of eggs, hash browns, doughnuts, sausages, cereal and other breakfast items.

“No MREs this time,” said Jane Montaney, a member of the American Legion auxiliary, “They’re going to have enough of that coming up.”

The soldiers were in good spirits as they prepared to board the buses, which took them to Grant County International Airport.

“For the most part they’re excited about doing their job,” she said. “They’re anxious to get over there and getting to work.”

Once the soldiers boarded the buses, they started towards Moses Lake with an escort of Washington State Patrol cars. A line of vehicles about a mile long followed them. Near the exit for Soap Lake a group of Legionnaires saluted the passing soldiers.

“Hopefully there were plenty of people there. With the time, there were a lot of people that didn’t have a choice in the matter,” Montaney said. “There’s just so many people who were not able to get off of work, but they were there with them in spirit.” 

Police blocked the Randolph Road exit, allowing the line to follow the soldiers to the airport. Near Big Bend Community College another group held signs wishing the soldiers well. Montaney said a friend with the group was calling her asking if the soldiers were close because of the cold.

“Then she told me how super fantastic it was when the soldiers went by that she didn’t even think about how cold it was,” she said. “I think the soldiers felt as good as those doing it. I think the soldiers know that they’re loved and an awful lot of people back here will be praying for them.”

Montaney said the American Legion is looking forward to helping the families of the soldiers while they’re deployed to Iraq. The Legion provided the families with cards with the Legion’s family support network’s phone number, 800-504-4098, and their personal numbers.

“It’s basically helping with the ‘honey-do’ list,” she said. “Last time, somebody needed some help trying to get the lawnmower ready. We had somebody go over there and basically it had been sitting all winter … If there’s something that needs to be done that the soldier would normally be doing we have lots of Legionnaires who are willing to help.”

Montaney also asked people to keep the yellow ribbons up until the soldiers return.

“Don’t take your freedoms for granted,” she said. “These guys are sacrificing a lot of their family time to make the county safe. It’s not just the soldiers, but their families that we need to be thankful for.”