OHIO NATIONAL GUARD PARTY Charlie Company takes care of its own

The party was for the families of those serving in the military overseas.
AUSTINTOWN -- The dining hall in the Ohio National Guard Armory in Austintown has a sign on the wall that reads, "We never let our 'Guard' down."
Veterans of Charlie Company picked their "Guard" up and carried them through a tough time by entertaining the families of Company 'C', whose loved ones are serving in Iraq.
The veterans of Charlie Company organized a large Christmas party Tuesday night in the armory's dining hall, with Santa giving each child a gift he had specifically requested.
Presents the size of children
Some of the presents were almost as large as the children, and had to be dragged back to a table to be opened with great attention and wide eyes.
Charlie Company is the 216th Engineering Battalion. Its 150 members deployed to Iraq work at building roads and schools and providing engineering support. The unit was activated in December of last year and shipped out in January.
Tiesha Johnson of Canton was one of those at the party Tuesday, sitting at one of the long tables in the hall with her two small children clutching either side of her. She was there because her sister, 20-year-old Carneka Green, is serving in Iraq.
Green was in her sophomore year at the University of Akron when the unit was sent, Tiesha said.
For her and her mother, it's the uncertainty that's hard, and the wondering whether Green is safe every time they hear about American casualties.
She's doing OK
"She's doing OK, she's doing OK. She's very spiritual and has faith in God and believes everything will be all right."
Kathy Burnham of Mentor sat at the end of another table with her three children. She held her youngest, 11-month-old Adam, who wore a red velvet baby suit.
Burnham's husband, Rob, was deployed in February. She said the hardest thing about having him gone for so long is the loss of support. She stays home with the children now.
"We made a promise to the oldest that I would be home since Daddy couldn't be."
Her middle son, Alex, 5, unwrapped a large red plastic firetruck, his face registering six expressions of delight.
Coming home party
Ron Hefner of Austintown said he's going to think next about organizing a coming home party for Charlie Company, due back in March.
He said he'd like to arrange for a police escort to ride with them from the Mahoning County Sheriff's Department to Fitch High School.
Anyone who'd like to send a donation or attend the event can contact the American Legion Post 301, 6399 Ridgeview Ave., Austintown, OH 44515, or (330) 502-8120.