Governor signs flags for deployed troops

Gov. Jim Gibbons on Tuesday signed two Nevada state flags to be sent to Nevada Army National Guard troops serving in Afghanistan by Web of Support founder P.J. Degross of Carson City.

"Best wishes to them," said Gibbons from his office at the Capitol on Tuesday afternoon. "Fly them well in defense of God and country."

Degross said four National Guard units currently are stationed in Afghanistan. She hopes to have the governor sign two more flags, which also will be shipped out to the isolated outposts where Nevadans are serving with national troops from Afghanistan.

The two flags were from among 30 Degross donated to the Governor's Office for use by Nevada troops serving in overseas conflicts.

"Whenever I need one for a soldier he signs one and I ship it out," said Degross. Her organization, Web of Support, has 375 members that send care packages to deployed soldiers.

Degross recently sent 500 pounds of coffee collected by Starbucks in Northern Nevada to troops in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Also on Tuesday, the Nevada Army National Guard announced 160 soldiers in the 1864th Transportation Company received notice that they will deploy to Kuwait and Iraq in the spring.

The unit, which concluded a deployment to Iraq in October 2005, is set for another combat transportation support mission, said Capt. April Conway. The soldiers will transport personnel, equipment and supplies throughout the combat theater.

A final departure date for the unit has not been set.

For more information on Web of Support visit webofsupport.com.

- Contact reporter F.T. Norton at ftnorton@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1213.