GAINESVILLE - If some people in Gainesville have their way, Gainesville will be turned into a sea of red, white, and blue Friday as the 802nd Ordnance Company returns home.
The 110 Army Reservists have been at Fort Stewart since Saturday after a year in Kuwait.
Karen Degges, who was active in facilitating the "care" packages that were sent to the 802nd during their deployment, is helping organize Friday's "welcome home."
"We're hoping that the businesses in the Gainesville area will take their marquees and put something up that says 'welcome home troops' or 'welcome home 802nd,' " Degges said.
She added that, right now, the caravan plans to arrived in Hall County via I-985, leaving the Interstate at Exit 22 (the Athens Highway), and motorcade to the Georgia Mountains Center by way of Athens Highway, Jesse Jewell Parkway, and Main Street.
Degges would like to see businesses and homes all over town, especially along the route into Gainesville, decked out in red, white and blue - and is encouraging people along the route to step from their homes or businesses and wave 'hello' as the buses carrying the troops pass.
Once at the mountains center, she says, there will be a brief ceremony for the soldiers.
"Because these guys are ready to get home (it will be brief)," she said. "It's been a long journey for them."
A two-hour reception is planned at the mountains center starting at 2:00 Friday - with the troops expected to arrive around 2:30 or 3:00
The 802nd deployed to Kuwait a year ago and arrived at Hunter Army Airfield near Savannah Saturday. Since then, they've been at Fort Stewart, also near Savannah, for debriefing and to make final preparations for their return to Gainesville.
Tuesday
January 7th, 2025
4:21PM
