Oklahoma Gov. Henry Says "Operation Holiday Homecoming" a Success

Members of 45th Will Spend Holidays with Family Before Deploying To Iraq

December 06, 2007 -- Oklahoma City -- Oklahoma Governor Brad Henry announced today that “Operation Holiday Homecoming” appears to have reached its goal by raising enough funds and resources to ensure that members of the 45th Infantry Brigade are able to spend the holidays with their families before deployment to Iraq in early 2008.

Spearheaded by the American Legion of Oklahoma and the Oklahoma Department of Veterans Affairs, the initiative accepted contributions to cover the costs of bringing the 2,600 troops back to Oklahoma from Dec. 23 to Jan. 2.

Organizers say they are still collecting money pledged by various individuals and organizations, but those funds, combined with donations in hand, will be sufficient to finance the transportation necessary to bring the 45th troops home for Christmas.

“I want to thank the many generous individuals, corporations and tribal nations that stepped forward to help provide this early Christmas gift for the members of the 45th,” Gov. Henry said. “When we kicked off this effort last month, I said then that failure was not an option. I knew then what I know now, that Oklahomans help Oklahomans.

“This is going to be a wonderful Christmas gift for guard members and their families. They make great sacrifices to protect the freedoms we hold dear, and this is the least we can do for them.”

To transport the troops, "Operation Holiday Homecoming" has lined up 60 buses and meals for the soldiers on their journey home from Fort Bliss, Texas.

Maj. Gen. Harry M. Wyatt III, adjutant general of Oklahoma, expressed his appreciation for the outpouring of support for the initiative.

“We are truly appreciative and are humbled by the response of the people of Oklahoma in support of getting the 45th Infantry Brigade home for Christmas,” he said.

“This once again shows that our state's greatest resource is the people that live in Oklahoma and their generosity in helping people in their time of need. The Oklahoma National Guard is so very grateful to everyone involved in getting our soldiers home.”

His sentiments were echoed by Michael Taylor, commander of the American Legion of Oklahoma.

“The American Legion would like to thank the many organizations and individuals of Oklahoma that made ‘Operation Holiday Homecoming’ a success,” he said. “Without the generous people of the State of Oklahoma, we would have never been able to accomplish such a tremendous undertaking.”

The many businesses and organizations that contributed to the cause include Love’s Stores, Wal-Mart Stores, BancFirst, Oklahoma State University, Tyme Bus Lines, Skiatook Public Schools, DHS Corporation and Oklahoma City University. In addition, four Oklahoma-based Native American tribes ¿ the Cherokee Nation, the Choctaw Nation, the Chickasaw Nation and the Creek Nation ¿ made generous donations.

“Operation Holiday Homecoming” was launched in part because U.S. Department of Defense regulations prohibit the Army from paying for the soldiers' trip home while on leave. The expense of getting home therefore falls on the responsibility of each individual soldier, many of whom might not have funds to pay for the trip to Oklahoma.

Source: Oklahoma Governor

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