By Mary Ellen Zangara Special Writer
The yellow ribbons on the Kaminskis’ tree in their front lawn now go from the bottom to top in support of Liberty Street resident Kimberly Kaminski, a senior airman in the U.S. Air Force preparing for her deployment to Iraq.
Her father, Bob, hosted a send-off get-together Friday night at their house with many family members, friends and supporters stopping by to wish her well and hang a yellow ribbon on the family’s tree.
When Senior Airman Kaminski arrived at her childhood home Friday, she found a neighborhood packed with cars and a tree covered with the symbolic yellow ribbons.
”I’m surprised how many people came and took time out of their day to come here,” she said. “It’s amazing how many people actually came. There’s some that I didn’t think would come but they are here. They are supporting me and putting ribbons on my tree. It is really nice to see. It really means a lot. They are actually supporting me by doing this.”
Individuals as well as the Veterans of Foreign War Post 2290 posted messages of prayers and hope for Senior Airman Kaminski.
This will be the 22-year-old’s fourth deployment as she already has served in Germany, in the southern U.S. after Hurricane Katrina and Saudi Arabia.
”I think it was good. I’m in shock of all the support that I have gotten already,” Senior Airman Kaminski said. “A lot of people from work came, a lot of friends came, family and people that I don’t even know showed up and put ribbons on the tree. I was like ‘What, strangers are putting ribbons on my tree?’”
Senior Airman Kaminski has had a little time to prepare for the deployment. She had just returned from Nevada, where she spent three weeks training for Iraq, Friday before the well-wishers began to show up.
”We knew it was coming,” she said of her deployment. “First, we were told May, then it was June, then July, then it was August and now it is September. I knew it was happening and now that it is here, I’m just like my mind is all (discumbobulated).”
Due to security reasons, the exact date that she will be leaving and the location she will be serving cannot be revealed, but Senior Airman Kaminski did say she would be on base security at an airport in Iraq.
”We really won’t know until we get there as things change all the time,” she said.
Her friend Tabitha (Tabby) Moran from Bordentown will be going to Iraq with her.
”We went through Germany together and went through Katrina together,” Senior Airman Kaminski said. “I met her on base and we have been friends ever since.”
Senior Airman Kaminski’s mother, Diane, mingled among the guests Friday, chatting with them about her daughter and the pending deployment.
”I’m so glad to have all our friends and family here to give her support and wish her well knowing that she will be in their thoughts and prayers every day while she is gone,” Diane Kaminski said.
Senior Airman Kaminski’s boyfriend, Derek Zamorsky, is trying to let it all sink in. The two have been dating for almost 30 months.
”I hope everything goes well. I’m nervous but I’m trying not to think about it too much,” he said. “It’s starting to hit me now. It’s hard at work and I’m just going to take every day as it comes, thinking of her often.”
Senior Airman Kaminski’s brother, Shawn, also is getting anxious about her deployment to Iraq.
”I know she is going to do her best like she does always,” he said. “I will miss her a lot. I love her and hope she is safe over there. She is my big sister and it’s going to be lonely around here without her. It’s going to be hard and difficult but she is doing what she was born to do.”
A neighbor who would give only her first name Monica brought a special ribbon and put it on the tree for Senior Airman Kaminski. She comes from a military family, including her brother and a grandfather who rose to the rank of general during World War II.
”I have several yellow ribbons all from that era so I gave Kimmy ours, one of them as a little symbol of hope,” she said. “Anybody who serves in the military serves the best that anybody can give them. It is a big sacrifice on many, many parts. It is very important that we support them and show them.”
Throughout the event, as people came to tie ribbons for Senior Airman Kaminski, Mr. Kaminski watched, enjoying food and conversation with people who stopped by.
”I’m ecstatic with the turnout. This is so cool, it’s been good,” he said.
With only a short time left until she leaves, Senior Airman Kaminski said she is ready to go.
”I’m nervous but we are going over there, we are going to do our own thing and everyone is going to come back in one piece.
”That is our motto.”

