We hope the City of Auburn will do something to welcome home the members of the 222nd Military Police Unit. Whatever your feelings are about the war, these young people have answered their call of duty to our country.

Our son was in Baghdad with the National Guard Unit out of Geneva. They returned home two years ago last month.

The city of Geneva gave them, as well as everyone who was there that day, a welcome home that will always be remembered!

They came by bus from Fort Dix to the Armory in Geneva. Everyone was there hours early and cell phones were ringing constantly. Soldiers calling, giving their progress as they traveled the long, last miles home.

With each phone call someone would shout out their message to the crowd anxiously awaiting their arrival. What excitement there was in the air!

They were escorted by state police from somewhere around Syracuse to the I-90 Geneva exit, then by the sheriff's department to the city line where they were met by a city police escort to the Armory.

The streets were lined with people welcoming them home. The fire department welcomed them to the city with an arc of water over the buses and the high school band welcomed them as they arrived at the armory.

Finally the buses arrived and rolled to a stop. What a wonderful experience it was watching the soldiers get off the buses, to hug our son and watch all the happy reunions around us.

Citizens of Auburn, please show your support for our troops and do something to welcome them home.

Dick and Helen Franczek

Auburn