Indiana Army National Guard company commanders give coins to soldiers for a job well done.
The coins are specific to each company. They bear the Guard company's logo and name.
Monday and today, Alpha Co. I-293rd SSG Arturo Garcia and SSG Dan Murphy, along with local Family Readiness Group Chairwoman Many Zachary, presented coins and framed plaques to civic and business leaders. The coins and plaques were presented as a thank-you to the leaders for attending and speaking at the Alpha Co.'s family dinner Dec. 11.
Among those receiving the coins included Warsaw Mayor Ernie Wiggins, Kosciusko County Sheriff Rocky Goshert, Wal-Mart manager Gary Elders, Rhonda Elliott of Midas, Dave Morales of Warsaw Police Department, YMCA Director Steve Jungbauer, Patriot Guard Riders Senior Captain Russ Bauer and American Legion Post 253, North Webster.
Letters of appreciation were to be given to other organizations and businesses for their support.
Army National Guard soldiers from Alpha Co., 1st Battalion, 293rd Infantry departed from the Warsaw Armory at 7 a.m. Dec. 12.
Alpha Co. will be training at Camp Atterbury, Edingburgh, Ind. through Dec. 22; spend Christmas and New Year's with their families; then depart to Fort Stewart, Ga., from Indianapolis on Jan. 2 for mobilization certification. After 60 to 90 days of active duty training in Georgia, the guardsmen will deploy to Iraq in support of the global war on terrorism as part of the 76th Infantry Brigade.
Alpha Co. includes approximately 100 soldiers from the Warsaw and Peru area, and 50 other soldiers from other parts of the state.
