More sendoff ceremonies this weekend will honor Iowans being called to active duty from the guard and reserves. National Guard spokesman Colonel Robert King says if you haven’t attended one yet, you’re invited. Media and public are welcome to come, and he encourages folks to come salute the citizen-soldiers “who live just down the street.” There are half a dozen events in all over the weekend and Monday, and among the military brass who’ll be in attendance will be Colonel King himself, who’s done a lot of the planning for the events. He says though he has overall responsibility, he gets a lot of help from local, subordinate commands that take care of details like finding a location, a chaplain, a working sound system and all the local mayors. Congressman Boswell will attend every ceremony, as well. He’s a decorated war hero himself, a former Vietnam aviation battalion commander, and there’ll also be Adjutant General Ron Dardis, head of the Iowa national guard, as well as local dignitaries, families and friends to send off and salute the people heading for active duty. There are ceremonies Saturday at 5:30 at the Cedar Rapids Exhibition Center, Sunday at 1-30 at the Marshalltown High School Roundhouse, Sunday at 4 at Clinton High School, Monday at two at Chariton High, Monday at four at Knoxville Middle School, and Monday at seven P-M in Oskaloosa’s Penn Central Mall.
