D Company says thanks

An Army unit in Iraq gave Costa Mesa a heartfelt and homemade gift that the City Council accepted Tuesday. The city adopted D Company, 2-25 Aviation Regiment, in September and has since helped collect and send gifts and letters to troops in the unit.

Members of D Company, which maintains and repairs the Army’s Black Hawk helicopters, showed their thanks with a gift, a frame containing two photos. One included of many of the unit’s 109 members, and the other was of the unit’s logo and a Black Hawk. The frame is made of aluminum sheets used to patch damaged aircraft, and it’s held together by the rivets that keep the helicopters in one piece.

City Councilwoman Katrina Foley, whose brother is in the unit, and management analyst Carol Proctor presented the photo to the council Tuesday. Proctor said earlier that the next shipment of personal items and gifts will be sent in June in time for Flag Day. For information or to donate to the Army unit, go to www.ci.costa-mesa.ca.us and click on “Support D Company” on the left side of the website.

— Alicia Robinson