Soldiers’ welcome home not so welcome

The downtown reconstruction of the U.S. Cellular Center is quite bothersome, especially for the incoming soldiers and their welcoming families. The U.S. Cellular Center was almost a perfect place for send-off and welcome-home ceremonies. Now that it is under renovation, these ceremonies have been transferred to the Cedar Rapids Ice Arena, which wouldn't be bad if there wasn't an inch of Plexiglas separating the families from their soldiers.

The only entrance to the middle of the arena is from the locker room. How dangerous a situation - loved ones who haven't seen their soldiers in a year or more and will do everything they can to see and hold them in their arms as soon as possible. From what I experienced at one welcome, it was a disaster. People were pushing their way through the entrance, not caring who they shoved. Others were finding different ways to get into the center by climbing over railings, four or five feet up. Standby soldiers were helping them down.

This was unsafe for husbands, wives and children.

Next time, line them up in an open field and let the general say his/her speech and when dismissed, let them run safely in the grass.

Katelyn Loveland