By Kirk Flatter
 
July 3, 2009
 
MEDFORD, Ore. - One Southern Oregon woman's persistence is helping pave the way for legislation aimed at helping troops with their transition back into civilian life.
 
Stacy Bannerman, who's husband is currently preparing to leave Iraq, has been working with Oregon Senator Ron Wyden's office for around six months on a bill that would set aside two weeks for soldiers with their families both before and after deployment.
 
"What that does is means that the family members are going to be able to to take that critical time to spend with their loved ones. And unfortunately for some of us that'll be the last time we see our loved ones," Soldier's Wife Stacy Bannerman said.
 
Wyden plans on introducing that bill, along with four others that deal with similar issues, to the U.S. Senate next week.
 
Many of Southern Oregon's soldiers are currently at Fort Stewart in Georgia preparing for their deployment to Iraq.