Tallahassee will soon be a distant memory for the more than 200 men and women of the Florida Army National Guard 779th engineering battalion. But the city and the loved ones within it will never be far from their hearts.
Members of the Forward Support Company and Headquarters Company, two of the six units that make up the 779th, boarded two planes Tuesday headed to Fort McCoy, Wis., for a final bit of training before deploying to Iraq for a year.
A ceremony commemorating their departure was held in the Capitol courtyard Tuesday morning.
Tears flowed as dignitaries offered words of thanks, praise and well wishes.
"You are fathers, mothers, sons, daughters and friends," Gov. Charlie Crist said. "Always ready when called upon. You are truly heroes."
"I'm proud to be deployed with a great group of soldiers that have trained hard and are ready," Battalion Commander Lt. Col. Dwayne Jarriel, also deploying, said. "Do right, fear nothing. That's what we live by. That is what we are."
After the ceremony, friends and family gathered around their beloved soldiers, hugging, kissing, reassuring each other that everything is going to be alright.
"I'll be waiting around for her," Nick Litvin said about his fiancee, Pfc. Heather Hebert. The wedding will have to wait for now but Litvin is planning on visiting bridal shows and sending photos of wedding gowns to his bride to be.
For most, this won't be the last time they see their family members pre-deployment.
Several family members have plans to visit Fort McCoy next month, but that doesn't make the separation any easier.
"We haven't been apart since the day we met," Pvt. Jolina Lawson said. Both she and her husband were headed overseas together but then she found out she was pregnant. Unable to hold back tears, a fellow soldier reminded her that she has a bigger mission: delivering a baby.
The Patriot Guard Riders, a group of motorcyclists and drivers who seek to support veterans and soldiers, escorted the four buses to the airport.
"We are proud to stand for them as they go off to protect what we stand for," organizer Mike Donohoe said of the Patriot Guard Riders.
The group included 18 motorcycles and three cars.
As the guardsmen and women boarded their planes, Lt. Col. Jarriel shook each of their hands, reminding them that he'd be seeing them soon.
"We believe in the Florida National Guard," Jarriel's wife, Penny said. "Our goal right now is for them to all come home safe."
My response:
The young lady in the picture is my law school classmate. Melonie is one of the sweetest people I have ever met. All I can do is cry…and pray.
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