BREDESEN AND CONTE WELCOME TROOPS HOME
FIRST COUPLE GREETS SOLDIERS, VISITS WITH REUNITED FAMILIES IN MISSISSIPPI



Hattisburg/ Gulfport /Biloxi, Miss. - Governor Phil Bredesen and First Lady Andrea Conte traveled Thursday of last week, to Gulfport, Miss., where they welcomed the first soldiers of the Tennessee Army National Guard's 278th Regimental Combat Team home after nearly a year of duty in Iraq.









Bob Keast of Camden flew with Bredesen and Conte then later joined Major General Gus Hargett, Adjutant General of the Tennessee Military Department, to greet nearly 350 returning troops as they stepped off the 1011 McDonnel-Douglas jumbo jet. The troops had been on the plane for nearly 24 hours. After the playing of the national anthem by the military's brass band and a brief memorial for fallen comrades, Bredesen thanked Guard members for their service to country and state.

"I was honored to be able to greet these Tennesseans, who put their lives on hold, put themselves in harm's way and left their families to do what their country asked of them," Bredesen said. "As Governor, it's a humbling experience to be the leader of a state that has such people in it."

More troops are expected to return over the next two weeks. All returning soldiers will complete a 10 day processing and reorientation period at Hattisburg's Camp Shelby, where Bredesen and Conte traveled to visit and eat lunch with troops earlier in the day.

Bob Keast of Camden travelled with the Governor and the First Lady on the C-130 military transport as they jaunted from Nashville to Hattisburg's Camp Shelby and then on to Biloxi. " I was able to shake the hands and say thank you to most all of the returning soldiers who fought for our state and our country. This was an experience I will never forget." said Keast. "We owe our freedom to these men and women." ( Mr. Bob Keast, Senior fought in World War 2 on Normandy Beach with military honors and his wife Lorrine was a Daughter of the American Revolution, both deceased).