Pocono News Section

Freedom Salute Honors National Guard

Freedom Salute Honors National Guard - Sunday, August 23, 2009 at 6:30PM EST

Reported by: Kyla Campbell
Sunday, Aug 23, 2009 @ 06:30pm EST

SCRANTON, LACKAWANNA COUNTY -- Dozens of men and women serving in the National Guard were honored Sunday at the Watres Armory in Scranton with a Freedom Salute.

For the Bannister family, being in the military is a tradition. SFC Basil Bannister pinned his daughter, Sabrina, with a "National Guard Team" pin. It's given in appreciation of people who support the military.

"I miss them a lot," said Sabrina. Another part of "them" is her 20-year-old sister, Jordan.

"Dad taught us a lot," said SPC Jordan Bannister. "He said it's very important, it teaches you responsibility, which it does."

Major Clyde Brown leads these citizen-soldiers and says they deserve recognition for what they've done.

"These folks are a shining example of a citizen-soldier and what we stand for in support of our community and our state, and our nation," said MAJ Brown.

Sabrina and her 25 classmates sent letters to her dad while he was serving in Afghanistan.

"That was the high point," said the eldest Bannister. "Sitting out in the desert, in your pooch at night. That really meant a lot, reading all 25. That blew me away, seriously. That meant a lot."

He encourages anyone with family and friends to keep in touch with people serving our country. He says nothing felt worse than seeing a fellow soldier without care packages.

"Even if it's a postcard, it helps," he said. "It means a lot, it's a morale booster."

As for Sabrina, she's still missing one person. Her 19-year-old brother is active duty in Germany, and he's expected to deploy to the Middle East in the spring.