Governor LePage Welcomes Soldiers Home

Bangor, Maine - Governor Paul R. LePage today welcomed home 75 members of the Maine Army National Guard, Charlie Company 1/126th Aviation returning from Kuwait in support of Operation New Dawn. The homecoming was held at the Army Aviation Support Facility in Bangor.

The 126th Aviation served a year overseas as a MEDIVAC helicopter unit.

"You have some of the most difficult work to do and you have sacrificed so much for your State and Nation," Governor LePage told the troops. "Maine is proud of all you. I am proud of all of you. Your service is greatly appreciated and we are happy to have you home."

During the deployment, the unit assumed the aero medical evacuation mission for Kuwait from the U.S. Navy. They flew over 1,200 sorties and completed 43 MEDIVAC missions.

Charlie Company 1/126th is stationed in Bangor. In 2008, the unit also deployed to Kuwait and Southern Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Images of the homecoming will be posted to Governor LePage's Flickr account later this afternoon.