In Connecticut's largest single deployment since the Korean War the families of 700 soldiers attended a send-off ceremony yesterday afternoon at the Hartford Convention Center. The CT Army National Guard is sending these soldiers from two units the 1st Battalion 102nd Infantry Regiment based in New Haven and the 250th Multi-Role Bridge Company based in New London.
My brother David is one of the soldiers who is being deployed to Afghanistan as part of Opeation Enduring Freedom to help train Afghanistan's Army, police and border police forces. I attended this ceremony yesterday with my mother and a few other members of our family.
To take part in this ceremony is something that I will cherish for many years to come. Seeing what had to be close to a couple thousand family members say their farewells to their loved ones was overwhelming.
In attendance was our Governor M. Jodi Rell, Lt. Governor Michael Fedele, Secretary of Stare Susan Bysiewicz, State Treasurer Denise Nappier, State Comptroller Nany Wyman and Attorney General Richard Blumenthal.
Also attending were our Congresssional Representatives John Larson, Joe Courtney, Rosa DeLauro, Jim Himes and Christopher Murphy.
Our United States Senators Joseph Lieberman and Christopher Dodd could not be in attendance but did send representatives in their place.
The wives, husbands, children, mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles and grandparents of these brave departing men and women endure many hardships and sacrifice greatly when their loved ones are deployed and are in great need of our love and support.
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