Welcoming them home

Two years ago, U.S. Army Reserve Maj. Aaron Smith, a contract police officer working in College Park, told the city he would be taking the next year off.

He was deploying to Iraq.

Before Smith — who commanded the 131-member unit known as Task Force Freight Train — left, the city adopted his unit to support the troops during their tour. After a year of planning since the group returned from overseas, College Park finally welcomed them home Saturday.

Five Chinook helicopters flew 55 of the unit's troops — who are based in Fort Eustis, Va. — into the College Park Airport on Saturday for lunch at Ledo Pizza, where city officials honored their sacrifices and celebrated their safe return.

"At the time — sort of spur of the moment — I said, ‘We'll throw you a welcome home party,'" said Steve Brayman, mayor of College Park in 2009.

Before the unit's deployment, the city council passed a resolution to adopt U.S. Army Reserve Unit, 5th Battalion, 159th Aviation Regiment, Task Force Freight Train, city Public Services Director Bob Ryan said.

"We hoped to encourage our residents to give them support and send them care packages," Ryan said. "In general, recognizing the hardship that their families are going through and providing some moral support and recognition."

That stimulus worked, and some city residents and officials supported the unit from abroad during its year-long stay in Iraq.

"They wanted the city to be involved with supporting the unit," said Smith, who has served as a contract police officer for Prince George's County since 1998. "We were mobilized by the first of October [2009]. They sent us coffee and care packages and cigars, things they thought we'd like."

Ryan said because his son is also an Army Reserve officer, he had the inside scoop on what the troops might appreciate during their time overseas.

Smith's unit won the Army Reserve Aviation Unit of the Year award, which he said is a testament to both the troops' hard work and diversified talent; at home, many work full-time for the Army maintaining aircraft, but others work as lawyers, firefighters and in a number of other professions.

Near the end of the lunch, the unit presented city officials with the College Park flag that flew over their camp in Iraq.

City Manager Joe Nagro also read a proclamation from Mayor Andy Fellows — who could not attend the event due to a prior engagement — which recognized the troops' service and named Nov. 19 after the Freight Train unit.

Several city officials who attended the luncheon said they were grateful for the opportunity to talk with their adopted unit.

Brayman said when the troops got off the bus in uniform, he saw a passerby thank them for their service.

"It just amazes me, the patriotism and service folks in uniform have," Brayman said.

During the next two years, Smith said his unit will be responsible for maintaining homeland security, and the troops could be placed anywhere in the country.

kirkwood@umdbk.com