Sarasota, Florida Welcomes Alpha Company 2-504 PIR with the 82d Airborne, 5 May 2006
Message from Gail Loeffler
Linda: Alpha Company Captain Ed Hollis, 1LT Carlos Guerrero, SSG Asa Westcott and Specialist Robert Mitchell came to Sarasota on May 5 and were treated to a hero's welcome.
A motorcycle escort from the Sarasota Police Department picked them up at the Homewood Suites (which the City provided for them) with 4 Lexus SUVs provided by Wilde Lexus of Sarasota, and drivers. They were taken to St. Martha's School where they were met with 400 kids standing in the driveway leading to the school waiving flags. They then went into the classroom and were honored with poems, prayers and responded to questions. The kids loved it! The class then escorted them to their cars.
The police escort then took them to the City boatramps where they were treated to a ride on the City's police boats for a bayside tour. One of the soldiers had never been in a boat...and this one is one of those Miami Vice type of police boats. They were then escorted to City Hall where a reception was held in their honor in the City hall lobby. They posed for pictures with the City Commission and city officials. Two of our County Commissioners also attended.
Captain Hollis presented the City with a beautiful plaque in appreciation of the City's support, and he showed a slide show documenting the troops activities in Afghanistan. After this the Mayor presented him with a key to the City. We also took this opportunity to thank our City veterans.
ABC News 7 - local affiliate - and our SNN news TV station covered the events, as well as Clear Channel broadcast a segment about the event and our local government access channel covered it.
All in all it was a wonderful day, and I'm sending you some pictures. What a wonderful organization you have!
A motorcycle escort from the Sarasota Police Department picked them up at the Homewood Suites (which the City provided for them) with 4 Lexus SUVs provided by Wilde Lexus of Sarasota, and drivers. They were taken to St. Martha's School where they were met with 400 kids standing in the driveway leading to the school waiving flags. They then went into the classroom and were honored with poems, prayers and responded to questions. The kids loved it! The class then escorted them to their cars.
The police escort then took them to the City boatramps where they were treated to a ride on the City's police boats for a bayside tour. One of the soldiers had never been in a boat...and this one is one of those Miami Vice type of police boats. They were then escorted to City Hall where a reception was held in their honor in the City hall lobby. They posed for pictures with the City Commission and city officials. Two of our County Commissioners also attended.
Captain Hollis presented the City with a beautiful plaque in appreciation of the City's support, and he showed a slide show documenting the troops activities in Afghanistan. After this the Mayor presented him with a key to the City. We also took this opportunity to thank our City veterans.
ABC News 7 - local affiliate - and our SNN news TV station covered the events, as well as Clear Channel broadcast a segment about the event and our local government access channel covered it.
All in all it was a wonderful day, and I'm sending you some pictures. What a wonderful organization you have!
Personal Comment from Beechwood School Teacher Nancy Taylor
"When I met Capt. Teague at the airport, I actually felt as though I was meeting a long lost relative, someone I already knew from our correspondence throughout the previous months. I have a daughter that is 28, not that much younger than Capt. Teague and 1SG McCready. I guess my maternal instincts set right in, as I claimed them as my own. I actually consider all 130 of the 2-504 "my boys", and have a renewed passion to do whatever I can to help these brave men that put it all on the line, and their families as well. This whole experience with ASA has filled me up with pride in our country and the men and women who serve and protect it. I feel that many, many people felt a life changing experience during their visit. I'm still getting letters, e-mails, and comments daily about the effect the visit of Capt. Teague and 1SG McCready had on different individuals. As they left I reminded them that they would always and forever be a part of the Beechwood/Ft. Mitchell family. They are a part of us."