Maine Guard unit to come home Sunday

BANGOR – The Maine Army National Guard’s Security Force II unit will return home between 9 and 11 a.m. Sunday to the Army Aviation Support Facility.

The 90-soldier unit served 12 months in Iraq. The group is made up of soldiers from various Army Guard units across the state.

While stationed in Navistar, Iraq, the unit provided convoy security, force protection and route clearance.

One soldier was killed and another seriously wounded during the year deployment. Sgt. Richard Parker, 26, of Phillips was killed by an improvised explosive device on June 13 in Scania, Iraq. Spc. David Saucier was seriously wounded in May and is at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center.

The unit will take a bus from Fort Dix, N.J., to the aviation facility in Bangor at 92 Hayes St. Operation Community Support is encouraging local businesses and community members to fly flags, hang yellow ribbons and post signs to welcome home the soldiers on Sunday morning.