A welcome home ceremony for 15 Soldiers with the South Dakota Army National Guard’s 200th Engineer Company was held Saturday in Pierre.
Soldiers with the Pierre, Chamberlain and Mobridge-based unit returned from a nine month deployment to Syria where they emplaced and repaired bridges throughout the region to ensure freedom of movement for US military and coalition forces.
South Dakota National Guard adjutant general Maj. Gen. Tim Reisch reminded the soldiers and their families to be patient as they adjust to being back together.
Pierre mayor Steve Harding, a 34 year member of the Guard, said the community appreciates the dedication of the soldiers.
Lt. Gov. Matt Michels thanked the deployed members of the 200th for building bridges.
Since Sept. 11, 2001, this is the third deployment for the 200th, which deployed forces to Iraq in 2003-2004 and Afghanistan in 2011-2012.
