FORT RILEY, Kan. – More than 300 Soldiers with the 1st Infantry Division headquarters are set to return this month from a nine-month deployment to Iraq and Kuwait. The first welcome-home ceremony is scheduled for 4 a.m. July 7 on Fort Riley’s Camp Funston.

The “Big Red One” headquarters deployed in October 2016 and assumed the role of Combined Joint Forces Land Component Command – Operation Inherent Resolve. In that role, the division headquarters provided command and control of Coalition troops training, advising and assisting Iraqi Security Forces.

While deployed, Maj. Gen. Joseph Martin, 1st Inf. Div. and Fort Riley commanding general, served as commanding general of CJFLCC. During that time, 1.8 million people were liberated in Mosul, Iraq, which has been under ISIS control since June 2014. Since October 2016, more than 350,000 children have returned to school in Mosul, 320 schools have reopened and 195,000 internally displaced persons have returned to their homes in Mosul.

Under the 1st Inf. Div.’s leadership, 30,000 Iraqi Security Forces Soldiers were trained and almost 5,000 square kilometers of ground was liberated in Mosul.

All members of Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion, 1st Inf. Div., are expected to return by the end of July.

**feature photo courtesy mortenson.com

A lot of people arrived at Heritage Park in downtown Junction City for the Fireworks Extravaganza that capped off Sundown Salute Tuesday night. That was preceded by musical concerts by the 1st Infantry Division Rock Band and 1st Infantry Division Band on the final evening of the annual celebration.

Dennis Beson, Volunteer Executive Director for Sundown Salute, enjoyed the success of the five day celebration. “Well I think that we showed that we could pull something off, that maybe a lot of people didn’t think we could. So I think maybe that’s the best part.”

Organizers got a late start this year on preparing for Sundown Salute including fundraising but in the end it worked. Beson commented on the next step. “Well we’ve got to do our reevaluation on everything, we’ve got to count up all the numbers, see where we’re at, and then we’ve got to decided what worked and what didn’t work, and then maybe make a plan for next year.”

Beson noted there were good vendors this year at the celebration, and for the available budget there was “top notch talent.” The Director added, “I think that we established the fact we can run leaner and still get good talent, and then maybe we look at some things that are accessory things like during the daytime for kids and families, but ultimately we may change some things and maybe we look at just a weekend event versus five days.” All final decisions for the 2018 celebration are still in the future.

The activities on Tuesday also included the 41st annual Freedom Run, the Sundown Salute parade and the Veterans Ceremony.

Brigadier General Patrick Frank thanked veterans and their families for their service during his remarks at the Veteran’s Ceremony on July 4th in Junction City.

Frank was one of the keynote speakers during the ceremony in Heritage Park in front of the Kansas Vietnam Veterans Memorial.

Franks issued a thank you to Junction City residents for inviting the 1st Infantry Division to their hometown. He reported that the latest contingent of 1st Armored  Brigade Combat Team soldiers returned to Fort Riley from South Korea Friday night, Combat Aviation Brigade troops have returned from Afghanistan, and most of the Division’s troops in Iraq, with the exception of one battalion, will be home in the near future. One brigade, the Second Brigade Combat Team, will deploy to Europe in the fall.

During the ceremony a wreath recognizing the 100 years of the 1st Infantry Division was placed in front of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.  He encouraged Vietnam veterans to attend a welcome home ceremony for them at 3 p.m. August 23rd at Fort Riley.

The ceremony also included comments by 1st District Congressman Roger Marshall, who noted the military are being asked to do more with less, and spoke in favor of Congress fully funding the military. Marshall noted deterrence is a path to peace.

Junction City firefighters conducted their annual evening meal feed at Sundown Salute Monday evening.

Approximately one and a half hours were scheduled for the event in Heritage Park where the public could come by and get a sausage dog and chips plus a drink for free.

Fire Chief Terry Johnson said they had approximately 1,000 sausage dogs from the Smithfield plant in Junction City. “And we’re giving out free sausage dogs, two on every plate to everybody that wants one, is hungry. It’s something the firefighters here in Junction City have a history of doing. It’s a tradition.

Members of the Junction City Firefighters Local 339 did the cooking and there was help serving from the Department’s Ladies Auxiliary.

Johnson stated, “It’s a great time. We get to meet everybody in the community. We get that facetime with our folks and show them that we’re more than just a fire department. We’re part of the team.”

Local and regional musical talent performed on the main stage at Sundown Salute Monday evening.

It’s day four of five in Sundown Salute 2017.

There’s been a DJ block party, a performance by rock band Quiet Riot, a Gospel Extravaganza and country music night featuring Tate Stevens – what’s left?

Monday night features local artists.

Here’s the schedule:

• 6:00 pm – Brass Knuckle Boulevard (main stage)
• 7:05 pm- Jade and Glory (band shell)
• 7:30 pm- Waffle Stomp (main stage)
• 8:35 pm – Jade and Glory (band shell)
• 9:00 pm – Season’s After (main stage)

Tuesday, July 4th is a patriotic themed day beginning with the Freedom Run at 7:00 am followed by the annual parade at 10:00 am. This year’s parade theme is 100 years and Danger Strong in tribute and celebration to the First Infantry Division at Fort Riley which celebrated 100 years as a Division this year. Following the parade is a Veteran’s ceremony just after noon. The night ends with the Fireworks extravaganza.

An incident at Sundown Salute Sunday did not result in any injuries, but caused a brief delay in an Ecumenical Church Service.

According to Sundown Salute Coordinator Nikki Londene, it happened Sunday morning. ” We had someone who decided to drive their motorcycle onto the stage while the church service was sound checking.” Londene noted there were people on the stage. “So there was concern for safety. Dennis Beson almost got taken out. Also there was some fuel that got leaked onto the stage as well as a chunk of the stage that was taken out of it.”

Londene reported the man who had driven the motorcycle was arrested.

The church service was delayed for about 20 minutes.

Between five and six thousand people were in attendance Saturday night to rock out with Sundown Salute headline performer Quiet Riot.

Nikki Londene, Sundown Salute Committee Chair, said that the annual Fourth of July celebration has exceeded expectations thus far.

“I feel like we kind of started over from ground zero this year; we redid our format for the genres of music, we’re a brand new board, we had to eliminate some things because of budget and we brought in some things because of budget,” said Londene. “We just really hoped to come out ahead this year and pay off last year’s debt, and I feel like we’re on the right track for that.”

Dennis Beson, Volunteer Executive Director, echoed similar sentiments.

“I’ve had a lot of people talk about country night, so I’m pretty excited about seeing the kind of crowd we have tomorrow; I think if we can have good weather and we have as much of a crowd or near as much of a crowd, we’ll do fine,” said Beson.

In addition to the attendance in excess of 5000 people Saturday night, beer sales were also reported to be in excess of $6500.

Sundown Salute 2017 continues on Sunday with Gospel music in the early afternoon followed by Country music in the evening. Monday features local and regional artists, and the Fourth of July is jam packed with the Freedom Run, Parade, Veteran’s Ceremony, Patriotic themed music and performances by 1st Infantry Division Band/Rock band as well as the highly anticipated fireworks show.

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The five-day Sundown Salute celebration in Junction City opened Friday night with DJ music, Ottoway Amusement Carnival rides, arts and crafts booths and multiple food vendors.

The crowd was estimated roughly at more than 2,500 people, possibly as high as 3,000.

One of the carnival rides drawing a lot of interest was “The Freak Out.” Sundown Salute Director Nikki Londene rode “The Freak Out.” “It’s a lot of fun, it really is. It goes a little higher than I remembered last year.” Londene said it’s not scary but “kind of grabs your stomach on the way down. You just kind of get off and whoo.”

The coordinator of the food vendors, Sam Niemczyk, said they offer items ranging from chicken on a stick to Greek food. “We’ve actually got pizza this year, pizza by the slice. We’ve got mini-doughnuts, new this year.” Funnel cake, slushies, snow cones, big turkey legs and Philly cheesesteak sandwiches are all part of the food offerings in the vendor area in Heritage Park.

The volunteer executive director for the celebration, Dennis Beson, said he liked the diversity of turnout on the opening night. “We made a very concentrated effort to cater some different ethnicities. Along with our African American community we have very, very good representation in our Latin community tonight. And they turned out in good numbers.”

Sundown Salute continues Saturday through Tuesday. The headline concert performers, “Quiet Riot” will be on stage beginning at 9 p.m. Saturday. This group was known for their rock songs in the 1980’s. No original member remains in the band, but drummer Frankie Banali has been with Quiet Riot since the 1980’s. . Londene noted two of the songs most people will recognize will be “Come On Field of Noise and Mental Health. “They have a new album coming out in August and they’ve obviously regrouped with a new lead singer.” That singer is  James Durbin.

Londene added the group has a new album coming out in August, and they’ll probably going to do some previews of that this weekend.”

Also performing in concert Saturday evening will be Madman’s Diary at 6 p.m. and The Banned at 7:30 p.m.