2000 soldiers + 12 Stryker vehicles = Lakewood celebration
LAKEWOOD - It was more than just a parade - it was a total community celebration, filling the streets of Lakewood. The city honored the 4-2 Stryker Brigade Combat Team on Sunday, with a parade including 2000 soldiers, 13 Stryker vehicles and I Corps Marching Band. The parade route started along Lakewood Drive, near the Lakewood PD station, and wound down to Lakewood City Hall.
The 4-2 SBCT, known as the Raider Brigade, just completed a nine-month deployment to Afghanistan, where they supplied security force assistance to the Afghan National Security Forces. The city of Lakewood has been 4-2 SBCT's "Community Connector" since 2006, The City's elected officials have maintained strong relationships with the Brigade's leadership, and soldiers and their families have received broad support from residents, businesses and other community members, a press release from the city of Lakewood reported.
In June 2013, the Department of the Army announced that 4-2 SBCT would inactivate as part of the Army’s plan to complete post-war downsizing and force restructuring by the year 2020. 4-2 SBCT’s transition is slated to begin later this year.