Friends, family send best wishes to soldiers

CLEVELAND, Tenn. — Friends and families of the 252nd Military Police Company held a candlelight prayer vigil Saturday evening as the soldiers approach the holiday season while serving in Iraq.

The unit left here in July and later deployed to Iraq for one year.

Sedara Bond, speaking for the Family Readiness Group here, said the group taped the event to send it “to our guys.”

“We just want to give them our best wishes and that they stay safe and show them how strongly the Cleveland community supports them,” she said.

About 170 soldiers are serving in Iraq with the unit.

On Sunday, Christmas packing, along with the American Red Cross, schools and organizations took place at the National Guard Armory here. Those packages include letters and cards from schoolchildren and others.

Saturday night’s vigil began with a prayer led by County Commissioner Lisa Stanbery.

“What we are seeing and what these families are suffering have gone on a long time in our country,” she said as she began by reading prayers by famous Americans. “We remember them daily in our devotions.”

“We are families, but we are also one family,” Mrs. Bond explained.

The Family Readiness Group includes some people who are not related to the soldiers or their families, she said.

During the ceremony on the Bradley County Courthouse Plaza, some sang songs about loneliness and hope their loved ones are home soon. Some, including children of the soldiers, read poems.

The audience watched a video of the company leaving home last summer. Then they lit small candles and Shelia Cannon from the Family Readiness Group led a closing prayer.