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September 20, 2018
Contact: Maj. Will Phillips
State Public Affairs Officer
Arkansas National Guard
501-212-5020 / 501-590-0318
HYPERLINK "mailto:william.b.phillips18.mil@mail.mil" william.b.phillips18.mil@mail.mil
The Arkansas National Guard Says “Thank You” to North Platte
~ Arkansas’s military leaders will present awards to citizens of North Platte for welcoming Guard Soldiers after arduous training event
WHO: Senior Leaders from the Arkansas National Guard
WHAT: will present awards to the residents of North Platte, Neb. and the North Platte Visitor’s Bureau.
WHEN: Tuesday September 25, 2018 at 10 a.m.
WHERE: Lincoln County Historical Museum, 2403 N Buffalo Bill Ave, North Platte, NE 69101
WHY: The residents of North Platte, Neb., provided meals and entertainment, free of charge, to Arkansas Soldiers who were returning from Camp Guernsey, Wyo., where they had just completed the Operation Western Strike training exercise in June. The North Platte Visitors Bureau received an inquiry, from the transportation company bringing the Soldiers home, for access to a location to allow the Soldiers to rest and purchase snacks.
Community leaders provided a rest location and much more.
Hundreds of residents from the area turned out to volunteer their time, food and entertainment skills to help Soldiers from the Arkansas Guard’s 142nd Field Artillery Brigade rest during their 18-hour drive home, just like the community did during WWII when North Platte was a rail stop for Union Pacific Railroad trains as they needed to take on water for the engines. These stops were ten minutes long and up to 5,000 service members per day traveled through the station.
Then, as now, Soldiers, on their way home were greeted by volunteers and given food, gifts and entertainment during their 10-minute rest stop. The citizens of North Platte helped over 700 service members.
Article on the event: HYPERLINK "https://www.wsj.com/articles/a-soldier-never-forgets-north-platte-1532289711" https://www.wsj.com/articles/a-soldier-never-forgets-north-platte-1532289711
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