Redeployed Soldiers of the 35th Signal Brigade, their families and friends make the 2.5 mile journey around Barton Field July 22 during the brigade’s “Walk to Baghdad Using foot shape and Back Finale”. Bonnie Heater The 35th Signal Brigade’s “Walk to Baghdad and Back Finale” took place July 22 at Barton Field.

Five hundred Soldiers of the redeployed “Lion Brigade” were joined by family members and friends for the final laps around Barton Field.

“Our families and friends logged about 62,000 miles to show their support while we were serving in Iraq,” said Col. Marc Harris, the 35th Signal Brigade’s commander. “That’s four times to Baghdad or two times around the equator. It’s through your support we were able to accomplish the mission. Thank you for thinking about us.”

One of the organizations to be recognized for their strong support was the Regimental Noncommissioned Officer Academy. The Soldiers attending classes there and the staff accumulated 54,000 miles of the total 62,000 miles. First Sgt. Lorenzo Lewis, the RNCOA deputy commander, accepted a framed collage of colorful images of the brigade’s Soldiers setting up various types of communications equipment in Iraq.

Carol Drinks, a 63rd Expeditionary Signal Battalion family member who participated in the “Walk to Baghdad and Back” events, logged 1,500 miles, the most miles earned by a single individual during the events.

According to Maj. Kevin Donley, the brigade’s rear detachment coordinator, the goal for the on-going project, which kicked off Sept. 19, 2009 on Barton Field, was to cover 13,286 miles which is the distance from Fort Gordon to where the Soldiers were stationed in Iraq during the 11 months they were there. Each month, a special event brought families together to log more miles and build camaraderie.

“The program encouraged family members to socialize with each other, keep fit, see places in the Central Savannah River Area, and help keep their minds off their loves not being with them,” said Donley.

Some individuals participated in all the planned events while others, who couldn’t be there, walked, jogged, swam, or biked on their own to accumulate miles for the program. Others took classes offered by Army Community Service and were awarded miles for their completion. Still, others participated in the LifeWorks Program events with Balfour Beatty to accumulate points.

Participants tracked their miles at the America on the Move website www.americaonthemove. org or submitted a mileage chart to 35thwalks2baghdadandback@gmail.com.

The 35th Signal Brigade’s Family Readiness Group not only hosted the “Walk to Baghdad and Back” events, but showed their support in other ways. “Sometimes when you are downrange it’s easy to feel forgotten,” said Command Sgt. Major Angel Ramos, the 35th Signal Brigade’s command sergeant major. “We didn’t feel that way,” he said. “Our families and other supporters from around the country sent us care packages, cards and letters. I especially like the candy that was sent.”

The 35th Signal Brigade’s commander concluded the finale with the presentation of awards to several of his Soldiers. Sgt. 1st Class Maceo Ellison, Sgt. 1st Class Chad Hester and Sgt. 1st Class Sharhonda Johnson received the Meritorious Service Medal. Capt. Gregory Van Bemden and Spc. Rosa Lee earned the Army Commendation Medal.