Remembering our Troops on the Fourth

By Howell Dennis

CITY EDITOR

CROWLEY – It’s always nice to see people who understand that the Fourth of July is more than having a day off to barbecue.

For the past few days, Lowe’s and the Family Readiness Group of the 2228th Military Police Company have teamed up to collect donations and items for the 180 soldiers in the company at the store’s front entrance. The 2228th is a combat service support unit comprised of military police and support personnel from throughout Louisiana.

“Seeing as how this is the week of the Fourth it seemed like to perfect time to do something to support our troops,” said Lowe’s manager Randy Broussard.

The men and women of the 2228th were among the first responders to Hurricane Katrina and until recently served on Task Force Gator, which augmented the New Orleans Police Department while rebuilding the Crescent City.

In December 2007 they received their mobilization orders to deploy to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. The company is based at Camp Beauregard near Pineville, La. They had been training at Camp Shelby, Miss. for their final preparations before deployment. They left in May to begin their mission.

“We would just like for people to show their support for our troops during this week,” said Vickie Blanchard whose son, Sgt. Joe Blanchard is part of the 2228th. “We are so thankful to Randy for helping to support us.”

Blanchard wanted to emphasize that as we celebrated the Fourth of July holiday that we remember to be grateful and proud of the generations that have followed and defended our great nation.

“War does not only belong to the soldier who fights but to our entire nation,” she said. “Freedom has a cost, we need to support our troops.”

For those wishing to contribute or offer their support please contact Vickie Blanchard at (337) 788-1206 or Patricia Buch at (337) 824-9815 or (337) 277-9466.