Girl Scouts Welcome Home Returning Pinckneyville Soldier
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[Pinckneyville native James Sroka spent the afternoon surrounded by adoring ladies on Friday, July 27. The ladies are members of Troops #8144, #8138 and #8842 who had been corresponding with Sroka over the past year while he was serving as Specialist in the U.S. Army in Afghanistan.
The Brownies, Juniors and Cadets in the three troops run by April Stanley and Patti Bardle took turns sending letters and care packages to Sroka while earning their 'Adopt a Soldier' patches.
The scouts held a special luncheon honoring Sroka at the First United Presbyterian Church in Pinckneyville. He was presented with a plaque and several other gifts.
Pinckneyville Commissioner Leonard Heisner thanked Sroka for his service, saying it made him very proud when young people stepped up to serve their country.
Sroka is the son of Mark and Janie Sroka, of Pinckneyville. He was joined at the luncheon by his wife, Miranda, and his grandmother, Virginia Sroka. His grandmother served as the liaison between Sroka and the Girl Scouts while he was overseas.
Bardle said the girls have become very attached to Sroka and were reluctant to choose a new soldier for next year's program until they were told he would be their veteran to honor.