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Capt. Brad Kennedy (from left), commander of the 684th Medical Company, unit 1st Sgt. Kevin Runyon, Lt. Col. Mark Cappone, commander of the 371st Sustainment Brigade Special Troops Battalion, and Westerville Mayor Kathleen Cocuzzi display a proclamation of adoption from the Westerville City Council May 3, 2011, during a city council meeting. The Ohio Army National Guard medical unit is scheduled to deploy to Afghanistan later this year. (Ohio National Guard photo by Spc. Randall Schumacher) |
WESTERVILLE, Ohio—Westerville Mayor Kathleen Cocuzzi and City Council Chair Mike Heyeck presented a proclamation May 3 to representatives of the 684th Medical Company, officially "adopting" the unit during a city council meeting here.
Community members recognized the Ohio Army National Guard unit's efforts both at home and abroad and welcomed the unit, which has a long history with the city, back into the fold.
The 684th was organized as the 134th Ambulance Company, 112th Medical Regiment, within the 37th Division in Westerville on May 14, 1921. In February 1942, the unit reorganized and was redesignated as Company C, 112th Medical Battalion before deploying to the Pacific Theater during World War II. The unit changed designations several times over the years, and in September 1995 was redesignated Company C, 118th Medical Battalion. After a 2003 mobilization and deployment to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, the company was reorganized and redesignated the 684th Medical Company in September 2007, and was moved to the Defense Supply Center Columbus, in Whitehall, Ohio.
After the move, the relationship between the city of Westerville and the unit waned, despite a strong feeling of connection from many of the unit's Soldiers who remembered the long history with the city. When the 684th was alerted for a fall deployment to Afghanistan, Westerville officials decided they wanted to renew the relationship with the unit and offer support for the Soldiers and their Families. They arranged for a proclamation ceremony at the May 3 council meeting during which unit members led the chamber in the Pledge of Allegiance.
Lt. Col. Mark Cappone, commander of the 371st Sustainment Brigade Special Troops Battalion, Capt. Brad Kennedy, commander of the 684th, and 684th 1st Sgt. Kevin Runyon received the proclamation on behalf of the unit's Soldiers. Second Lt. Rachel Bergman also attended.
"Although the brick and mortar of the 684th lies at the DSCC in Whitehall, the spirit and history of the unit still resides firmly within the great community of Westerville," Bergman said. |