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A yellow-ribbon invitation

LIVING IN MANVILLE

By Mary Ellen Zangara Special Writer
   Liberty Street resident Bob Kaminski is tying yellow ribbons in his trees in preparation for his daughter’s deployment to Iraq, taking a note from the popular ‘70s song by Tony Orlando and Dawn.
   And in keeping with the song about a couple separated by war, and yellow ribbons on trees to signify love for a soldier overseas, Mr. Kaminski will keep his ribbons until Kimberly Kaminski, 22, a senior airman in the U.S. Air Force, returns.
   Senior Airman Kaminski is getting ready for her fourth deployment in her assignment with the Air Force Security Forces. The only daughter of Bob and Diane and a 2003 graduate of Manville High School, she has already been to Saudi Arabia and Germany.
   ”She was only home about a week and went down to Katrina, came home and last year was in Germany. She made it home in time for Christmas. She has seen a lot for a little girl,” said Mr. Kaminski.
   This year she has been assigned with her security force to go to Iraq.
   ”Kimmy’s unit being security will be in front of the line,” Mr. Kaminski said. “We are very proud of her as she has a history, a family history of serving this country.”
   Senior Airman Kaminski will be leaving around the second week of September and is scheduled to return in May 2008. The military has put her off attending classes and finishing up college courses at Raritan Valley Community College, where she is a double major in law enforcement and criminology.
   If she didn’t get this deployment, she would have graduated. When she returns, she will finish her classes for her double major. Senior Airman Kaminski also just completed an internship with the Hillsborough Police Department.
   ”She liked it a lot and is looking forward to contacting them when she comes home,” said Mr. Kaminski, adding she wants to pursue a career in law enforcement for a police officer or a national securities officer of some kind.
   She received a citation from the military for her work when deployed in the South following Hurricane Katrina in 2005. She made arrests, did searches, roadside stops, and rode in the boats. She was with the first police forces, other than the local sheriff officers, at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans to get the arena in order.
   Born and raised in Manville, Senior Airman Kaminski was a local Girl Scout, went through the school district and played three sports at MHS. She has a brother Shawn at home.
   ”Today (Tuesday) Kimmy is due home — she has been out in Nevada doing desert training for about three weeks,” Mr. Kaminski said. “She will remain on active status until she leaves and will be home Labor Day weekend.”
   Mr. Kaminski is inviting the residents to join them on Aug. 31 from 6 p.m. on at their home 10 Liberty St. in Lost Valley to give Senior Airman Kaminski a send-off.
   ”A lot of people go back to college and work so on Friday of Labor Day weekend, I am having a stop-by so everybody can get together and see how many ribbons they can put on our tree,” he said. “Stop by mingle, meet old friends, new friends and see Kimmy to wish her well.”
   He is hoping that local organizations, teachers, friends and residents stop by to “honor your local hometown military personnel.”
   ”Everybody bring a ribbon — put your name in it, put a little message on it and tie it to the tree,” he said. “Please stop by .. . say hello, lift a mug and toast her and wish her well.”
   He said visitors can tie ribbons on his trees anytime, noting he wants to cover the tree as much as possible for the Labor Day weekend send-off.
   ”I’m not taking down a single ribbon until she comes home. They are going to stay there the entire season,” said Mr. Kaminski.