A 'Freedom Salute' for Guard, families
Statewide program includes Elgin event
ELGIN -- While deployed to Afghanistan, Task Force Bayonet was awarded six Purple Hearts, 39 Bronze Stars, 71 Combat Infantryman Badges, 16 Combat Action Badges and eight Combat Medical Badges.
Four soldiers from Task Force Bayonet -- comprised of seven Illinois Army National Guard units -- were killed during their yearlong deployment.
(Andrew A. Nelles/For Sun-Times Media)
Over the weekend and around the state, the Illinois Army National Guard recognized those 535 soldiers for their service and sacrifices. Task Force Bayonet has been home since July.
"The Freedom Salute Campaign program is a small way to show these patriotic citizen-soldiers, their families and employers how much their sacrifice is appreciated," according to a release from the Department of Military Affairs. Each soldier was presented with an encased American flag, as well as a commemorative coin, a certificate of appreciation and a lapel pin.
But while these men and women were deployed, their families remained behind. On Sunday, while soldiers were honored for their service, appreciation also was expressed for the sacrifices faced by the families.
Among those ceremonies was one held at American Legion Post 57 on Liberty Street in Elgin.
Lisa Guerrero, wife of Sgt. Jose Guerrero, was recognized for her work as the Family Readiness Group leader.
Much of what she did, Lisa Guerrero said, was help families find the resources available to them while disseminating information and becoming an informal support group for families.
"Where they are at, different programs that are available for veterans and their families" are both a part of what she did as a family readiness group (FRG) leader.
Jose Guerrero has been in the military for 26 years and was on his third deployment, and she is used to his time away, Lisa Guerrero said. Whether he will be deployed again is uncertain, she said. "I sure hope not ... but he loves it. Whatever he decides, I will support."
For Jose Guerrero, he was proud to see his wife recognized for her work. "Being the FRG is not an easy undertaking," he said.
While communicating with family back home is easier in the age of Facebook and e-mail, he said, it is important for soldiers to know there is a support group back home, too. "That is paramount ... to have someone to talk to," he said. As much as the soldier may want to, "you can't be involved with the day-to-day" back home.
"It does affect you sometimes, and it is hard to stay focused on it in that way," he added.
The recognition for family is nice, he added, but saying "thank you" to the troops is also important in the post-Vietnam era, he said. "There is a sense of fulfillment, that that year of your life was not wasted."
