By Matthew E. Milliken

mmilliken@heraldsun.com; 419-6684

MORRISVILLE -- Families of National Guard soldiers from around the Triangle gathered at the Morrisville Army National Guard Armory Sunday afternoon to celebrate their contributions to the country.

Hundreds of civilians, and a number of uniformed soldiers as well, got to enjoy lunch, a military band, free computer games and a costume contest. Young ones could have their faces painted by N.C. State University sorority members or pick prizes out of a "duck pond." There were also free pumpkins being given out to families in attendance.

The event, the first of its kind, was organized by local members of an international leadership-exchange program established in 1953 to honor Dwight Eisenhower in his first year as U.S. president. The intent was to succor families of deployed soldiers in the 30th Special Troops Battalion, headquartered in Durham, and the 1st of the 130th Attack Reconnaissance Battalion, or the 1-130th ARB, based in Morrisville.

"It's wonderful whenever you can have an organization like the Eisenhower foundation working with the Guard to put on an event of this scale for the families because they absolutely deserve a big event like this," said Capt. Charles Thompson, a Durham resident and Army National Guard member who is serving as rear detachment commander for the 1-130.

Thompson's battalion dispatched about 500 troops and 24 Apache attack helicopters to Fort Hood for training in March. They deployed to southern Iraq in July and are expected back home in the spring. The battalion, which has been casualty-free, escorts convoys, patrols borders and performs reconnaissance and attack missions.

Thompson, a 29-year-old full-time Guard member, handles logistical and administrative issues involving his battalion, works with the Family Readiness Group (that is, relatives of deployed soldiers), and commands about 70 soldiers who did not deploy due to their newness to the unit or medical issues.

But on Sunday, Thompson's focus was squarely on the loved ones of his fellow service members -- especially children, who can have a hard time dealing with the absence of a parent or sibling.

"If they can put that aside for even a few hours and hopefully enjoy ourselves, then I think we've accomplished our mission," he said.

Thompson was standing near a table as families arrived. His staff was distributing surveys to gauge needs of families. The officer said that relatives of Guard members frequently have questions about military benefits.

About 75 minutes into the festival, local dignitaries began to address the crowd. The speakers included U.S. Reps. Bob Etheridge and Brad Miller, Democrats from Lillington and Raleigh respectively, and Reuben Young, the state secretary of crime control and prevention.

"You do everything from the major to the mundane," Young said of how the families help Guard members. "And were it not for you, they would not be able to do what they are assigned to do overseas."