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In an emotional day for soldiers and their families, National Guard unit here gets sendoff before deployment to Middle East
By RUSTY DENNEN BLOG: Photographer Mike Morones shares the story behind this story in his blog. Yesterday, the war in Iraq came home to Fredericksburg. Under giant oak trees and among the stately buildings at the University of Mary Washington, soldiers in the Virginia Army National Guard and their families gathered. The men and women in camouflage fatigues came to load up their gear and get final instructions; the families, the wives, toddlers and grandparents, to say their goodbyes. After getting orders in April, Delta Company, 3rd Battalion 116th Infantry and Company F of the 429th Brigade Support Battalion spent the better part of the day at the campus for their official sendoff. The soldiers will arrive at Camp Shelby, Miss., late today for two months of training, after which they will be flown to Kuwait, then to combat duty in Iraq. The two companies, totaling about 330 soldiers, are assigned to the Fredericksburg National Guard Armory, but hail from all over the state. Among them was Sgt. Declan Hickey, 33, of King George County, who served in the Marines, and then joined the Guard four years ago. He was a firefighter at Reagan National Airport who responded to the 9/11 attack on the Pentagon. As his daughters, Emma, 4, and Claudia, 6, sipped sodas under the watchful eyes of their mom, Angela, he steeled himself for the moment he would step on a bus and be gone for a year. "Today is the toughest part, saying goodbye to everybody," he said. They have been through this before. The couple were apart for two years while he was in the Marines. Angela was already looking ahead: "I've got two girls here to keep me busy." The university yesterday hosted the daylong departure ceremony, which featured games for the many children in tow, a picnic, and information booths for families with last-minute questions.
We you have people that are like family to you go overseas it is a challege to know wha to say to thier one's they left behind. Sgt Hickey you will be missed greatly. Cookie and I love you and will miss you. Please be safe and come home soon. We will keep an eye out for the house and your family. BE SAFE
If you do not support our American troops then Please by all means stand in front of them.
If we ever forget that we're one nation under God, Then we'll be one nation gone under.GOD BLESS OUR AMERICAN TROOPS!
Always remember that only two defining forces have ever offered to die for you. One was Jesus Christ, and the other was your American G.I
One died for your soul and the other died for your freedom.
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