'Warrior Citizens' honored in Arlington Heights

It took four years for Staff Sgt. Terrence House to get his welcome home party.

That's because Army reservists like House are quietly deployed either alone or in small groups, so there often isn't a large group waving American flags waiting for them at the airport when they return to civilian life.

"It's been kind of slow going, returning to things," said House, a Bartlett native who spent a year in Iraq supplying fuel to military vehicles. "But it's good to be back and I'm ready for whatever is next."

House returned in 2005. He was one of 31 Army reservists honored at the "The Warrior Citizen Award Program" at the 85th Support Command Base in Arlington Heights on Sunday. Arlington Heights Village President Arlene Mulder and State Rep. Mark Walker also attended the ceremony, led by the 85th's Brig. Gen. Marcia Anderson.

"In total, about 12 percent of the Army reserve or 30,000 people are deployed to countless locations throughout the world," Anderson said. "You don't get parades when you return, but we couldn't do it without you."

On Sunday, each Army reservist honored was given an encased American flag, a commemorative coin and a lapel pin in front of family and friends.

Major Bryan Brokate returned in July after spending six months in Iraq. He doesn't expect to be in the United States for long.

"I'm back now, but I expect I'll be deployed to Afghanistan at some point soon," said Brokate, of Cleveland. "I don't know for sure, that's just what I'm anticipating."

The Army Reserve 85th Division, headquartered in Arlington Heights, disbanded in 2007 after 90 years of service and the approximately 200 reservists at the Arlington Heights site were transferred to other divisions. Today the base is still under the command of the Army Reserve but serves as a regional support group.