South Boston and Roanoke area Va. Guard Soldiers to hold Freedom Salutes

South Boston, Alton and Roanoke Virginia National Guard soldiers Saturday will gather to conduct Freedom Salutes in honor of a Virginia company that served in Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Designed to publicly acknowledge Army Guard Soldiers who served in Operations Noble Eagle, Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom, the Freedom Salute Campaign is one of the largest Army National Guard recognition endeavors in history, according to a statement from the National Guard.

This Saturday, Guard members will be specifically honoring the service of E Company, 429th Brigade Support Battalion, based in Roanoke, that operated in Iraq from July 2007 to May 2008. About 170 soldiers returned in May, some 60 of whom are from South boston.

As part of the Freedom Salute campaign, each Soldier is scheduled to receive a American flag in a wood display case, a Defender of Freedom certificate as well as commemorative coins and medallions.

The unit had no Soldiers wounded in action, but had one Soldier killed in action during the deployment. Staff Sgt. Jesse A. Ault, 28, of Dublin, Va., died April 9 in Baghdad, Iraq, from wounds suffered in Tunnis, Iraq, when his vehicle encountered an improvised explosive device.

The Salute location is: Cluster Springs Ruritan Club, 1053 Paradise Road, Alton, Va. In case of incliment weather, the ceremony will be held at Halifax County High School, 310 High School Circle in South Boston, Va.