Virginia Guard miltary police and aviation mainteance units hold Freedom Salute to honor service in Iraq and Kosovo - Dec. 12, 2010

Virginia National Guard Soldiers from the Virginia Beach-based 229th Military Police Company and the Sandston-based Detachment 2, Company B, 777th Aviation Support Battalion gathered Dec. 12 at the Sheraton Richmond Park South Hotel to conduct a Freedom Salute in honor of their service in Iraq and Kosovo.

Approximately 120 Soldiers from the 229th returned to Virginia July 29 after serving in Iraq since October 2009. The Soldiers began their tour on federal active duty Aug. 3, 2009. The unit was expected to provide police training to the Iraqi Police, but was task organized and provided additional training to also conduct protection service detail missions.

While headquartered in Virginia Beach, the 229th deployed with Soldiers from all over the state. Approximately 60 Soldiers are from the Hampton Roads area, about 20 are from the Richmond and Petersburg area, approximately 40 are from the Roanoke and Southwest Virginia area, about 10 are from the Northern Virginia area and the other Soldiers are from various locations across the state.

Approximately 20 Soldiers of the Detachment 2 mobilized in August 2009 for deployment in Kosovo to serve in the peacekeeping duty mission of the NATO Kosovo Force 12 rotation and returned to Virginia in August 2010. The helicopters in Kosovo provide a valuable support to the peacekeeping mission, and the Soldiers from the detachment were in the lead for aviation sustainment.

While headquartered in Sandston, the Soldiers from Detachment 2 come from all over the state including three from the Richmond area, three from Central Virginia, six from Northern Virginia and six from the Hampton Roads area.

The Freedom Salute Campaign is one of the largest Army National Guard recognition endeavors in history, designed to publicly acknowledge Army Guard Soldiers and those who supported them during the President's call to duty for Operations Noble Eagle, Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom.

The Freedom Salute will recognize the Soldiers, their families, employers and organizations that contributed significantly to supporting the unit during its deployment.

As part of the Freedom Salute campaign, each Soldier is scheduled to receive an American flag in a wood display case, a Defender of Freedom certificate as well as commemorative coins and medallions.