1st Lieutenant Thomas M. Ryder, a 2006 graduate of The United States Military Academy-West Point and a 2002 alumnus of Garden City High School recently completed a 15-month deployment to Iraq with the 101st Airborne (Air Assault) and returned to his post at Fort Campbell, Kentucky. Thomas was a combat engineer platoon leader prior to becoming his company's Executive Officer and was awarded The Combat Action Badge and The Bronze Star while serving in and around Tikrit, Iraq. Tom is scheduled to attend the Captain's Engineer Career Course at Fort Leonard Wood, MO in April 2009. Thank you to all those who supported Tom and his troops especially Middle School Assistant Principal Susan Lee, staff, students and their parents for organizing and sending needed care packages and to Walt Winchurch, his soccer team, Centennial players and parents who collected and donated countless soccer balls. Special thanks to Irene Hammer for organizing neighbors and tying commemorative yellow ribbons around every tree on Fairmount Blvd.