Saturday’s Yellow Ribbon program honored those who returned a few months ago after serving in

By Sean Barron

Saturday’s Yellow Ribbon program honored those who returned a few months ago after serving in Iraq.

VIENNA — Ten-year-old Noah Stere recently enjoyed an indoor water park, but his pleasure had a deeper source than the rides and entertainment.

The occasion also had a celebratory element, because Noah knew his father, Sr. Master Sgt. Eric Stere, would soon be returning from a six-month mission in Iraq.

“It feels great; I missed my dad,” added Noah’s 13-year-old brother, Tristen.

Also happy to see her father was daughter Grace, 8.

Stere, his wife, Amy, and the three children were together for Saturday’s Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program at the Youngstown Air Reserve Station.

The event honored the more than 40 personnel with the 910th Security Forces Squadron who returned a few months ago after serving 180 days of duty at Kirkuk Air Base in Iraq. The three-hour program also was set up to offer support to about 15 reservists with the 910th who are preparing to deploy to Iraq in December or January.

The Yellow Ribbon program is mandated by Congress to address the physical, emotional and spiritual needs of deployed reservists and their families throughout the deployment cycle, from notification until at least six months after their return.

Also helping returning reservists get acclimated to family and civilian life are numerous local, state and national agencies, noted Maj. Wes White, commander of the 910th Security Forces Squadron.

Legal resources also are available to ensure reservists don’t unfairly lose their jobs because of their military service, explained Master Sgt. Jackie Zawada, who’s in charge of the local program.

Making a visit to the airbase to honor the reservists was Lt. Gen. Charles E. Stenner Jr., chief of the Air Force Reserve in Washington, D.C., who serves as principal advisor on Reserve matters to the Air Force chief of staff. He’s also commander of the Air Force Reserve Command at Robins Air Force Base in Georgia.

Stere, of Hubbard, was operations superintendent for 354 personnel and offered his expertise to a joint U.S. and U.N. humanitarian relief effort in Kirkuk, which, among other things, helped badly injured victims of a suicide bomber receive needed medical care. Stere’s duties also included securing the perimeter around the air field and supporting various tactical operations as well as the Iraqi Air Force, he said.

While Stere is adjusting to being back home and thinking about possible summer vacation destinations for himself and his family, other military personnel, including Tech.l Sgts. Sean Beam and Leslie D. Brode, were contemplating being deployed to Iraq around year’s end.

“When I went back in the Reserves, I knew full well I could be called back to Iraq at any time,” said Beam, of Bay Village near Cleveland. “When you have to go, you have to go.”

Beam seemed stoic about his deployment, saying he’s trying to be forthright about telling his daughter, Grace, 9, and 15-year-old son, William, what his duties entail while trying to decrease their anxiety by reassuring them that he will be safe.

Preparing his family also is a high priority for Brode, of Rome, Ohio, in Ashtabula County, who’s already served there once before. Brode said he intends to get the family’s financial matters in order and get other family members to support his wife, who’s expecting the couple’s second child in August, and 9-month-old son.

Calling the local air base “a fantastic installation,” Stenner praised the community for its support of the facility and reservists. Stenner said he tries to visit two Air Force bases each month to look at how they’re running and operating.

“We want to make sure everyone’s prepared to [be deployed], but when they get back, we can’t forget to get them back in the swing of things,” Stenner said of the program’s main mission.

The Yellow Ribbon event also had an awards ceremony to recognize several reservists’ accomplishments, as well as crafts and other activities for children.