Beebe Signs Banner for 39th Regiment Deploying to Iraq

Gov. Mike Beebe came to the Donaghey Student Center Wednesday to add his name to the hundreds of UALR well wishers signing a giant banner for members of the Arkansas National Guard’s 39th Infantry Brigade leaving home on Jan. 5 to deploy to Iraq.

“This banner helps us say to the men and women of the armed forces that we love them and respect them and will do all we can to take care of the people they are leaving behind,” Beebe said. “The soldiers should not have to worry about the wives, husbands, the children and the parents they are leaving behind. That’s our job.” Members of the veteran’s fraternity Phi Chi Sigma commissioned the banner and have been collecting the signatures of students, faculty, and staff to create something the soldiers can take with them as a reminder of home. Fraternity members also made Beebe – a veteran of the Army – an honorary member of the fraternity and presented him with its doubloon. More than 1,200 students at UALR are veterans of the armed services, and 600 are currently receiving benefits.