Eight local members of the National Guard enjoyed a Thanksgiving at home thanks to local donations and Operation Holiday Memories. They were based in Camp Attebury, Indiana and when their commander told them they have a four day break, several guardsman didn’t know what they were going to do because of the cost of travel. Liberal native and soldier Tyler Antrim says fills him with a sense of pride.

“It was an awesome feeling,” the Liberal native Antrim said. “When my aunt initially paid two-thousand dollars out of her pocket, I was concerned about her getting reimbursed. Then when she told me actually there were three people who came in and donated 35-hundred dollars it was a complete relief. It made me proud to be from this area.”

Their short break is just about over. They ship out Friday at 12:30 from the Liberal airport for Iraq. Operation Holiday Memories hopes to continue to raise money for future possibilities to bring soldiers home. You can make a tax deductable donation at First National Bank.