Brandon & Jeremy Pitts
Welcome Home Reception
March 29, 2008

Sgt. Brandon Pitts
U.S. Army
Unit 41BCT 1-4 Cav
Wartime Locations: Baghdad, Iraq
Serving: July,2003 to present

 A reception was held on Saturday, March 29  from 3-6 pm to welcome home Brandon & Jeremy Pitts from their tours of duty in Iraq. 
Brandon & Jeremy are the sons of Gary and Judy Pitts. 
The welcome home ceremony was held at the
Franklin Community Center & Heritage Museum at 4 pm.
Earlier in the day the family had a private luncheon and gathering.

Specialist Jeremy Joseph Pitts
U.S. Army
101st Airborne
Wartime Locations: Baghdad, Iraq
Serving: April,2004 to present

Read the speech from the ceremony.

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Speech by Craig Stokes, President
Franklin Community Council, Inc.

I’d like to welcome everyone to this special event in honor of two local heroes.    Websters dictionary defines a hero as a man admired for his achievements and one that shows great courage.   These two young men are perfect examples of that definition.   The Pitts family has a long history of service to our country. In addition to these two brothers -  a 3rd brother, a grandfather and 3 uncles served in the United States Army.   But today we are here to honor Brandon & Jeremy.   Brandon was deployed to Iraq in 2007 and returned just this past week.  Jeremy was deployed in 2005 and returned in 2006.  Both men have re-enlisted.

We know your folks, Gary and Judy Pitts, are extremely proud of your service and we want you to know that the residents of southeast Kansas feel the same way.   Your families have also sacrificed and for that you all have our deepest respect and appreciation.    

We are thankful for your safe return and wish you and your loved ones a joyous reunion. 


The following poem by Father Dennis Edward O’Brien, United States Marine Corp.,  is a fitting tribute to our men in uniform.

 It's the soldier, not the reporter who has given us Freedom of the Press.
It's the soldier, not the poet, who has given us Freedom of Speech.
It's the soldier, not the campus organizer, who has given us the Freedom to Demonstrate.
It's the soldier, not the lawyer, who has given us the Right to a Fair Trial.
It's the soldier who salutes the flag, serves under the flag and whose coffin is draped by the flag, Who gives the protestor the right to burn the flag.

We appreciate all that you both have given in service to our country.   

At this time I’d like to introduce a few special guests who have a few words to say:

Soldiers have engaged in the noblest work of life and have willingly laid down their lives so that others might live in freedom since that first day the Continental Congress called for an Army over 230 years ago on June 14, 1775.

If there are any veterans here today, please stand so we can recognize all of you.  

We would like to thank all of our heroes for their service.    

And a special thank you to Brandon & Jeremy for your service. And thank you for helping the rest of the world become a safer place.

Franklin Community Council, Inc. would like to present you both with a scrapbook from this event, a t-shirt and a set of pins.   It is a very small token for all that you have done.   

We are honored to be able to say to you today: Welcome home. We missed you. And job well done!     

We invite everyone to stay for refreshments and to spend time to welcome these young men home.

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 E-mail: memrylane@yahoo.com