Guard gets an emotional sendoff

By Drew Houff
The Winchester Star

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WINCHESTER — With cheers, hugs, smiles, and some sadness, local National Guard members officially departed on Tuesday for Camp Shelby, Miss. — and their eventual destination of Iraq.

The troops from Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 3rd Battalion, 116th Infantry Regiment, 29th Division of the Virginia Army National Guard were honored with an evening departure ceremony at Shenandoah University’s Shentel Stadium.

Cpl. Jonathan Fournier of Front Royal carries his gear to the bus that was waiting to take the National Guard members to Washington Dulles International Airport. (Photo by Jeff Taylor)

The event marked a transition for the Guardsmen, who will train for about three months before being deployed for Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Winchester Mayor Elizabeth A. Minor, Virginia Secretary of Public Safety Clyde E. Cristman, and Maj. Gen. Robert B. Newman of the Virginia Army National Guard sent the soldiers off with support, well wishes, and hopes for a safe return.

Minor, for example, told the soldiers she was not saying goodbye — “...until we meet again,” she said several times, explaining how no words could really capture the emotions of such a sendoff.

“Please know you have our hearts, our support, our prayers, and our love as you fight as part of [Operation Iraqi Freedom],” Minor concluded. “Until we meet again, thank you, and God bless you all.”

Cristman noted that the unit had answered the call before when it fought as part of Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan in 2004 and 2005.

Two members of the company — Staff Sgt. Craig Cherry, 39, of Winchester, and Sgt. Bobby Beasley, 36, of Inwood, W.Va. — died during that deployment.

Cristman said Virginians supported this second major deployment, and the soldiers had the gratitude of the entire state.

“We will stand with your family for your safe return in hopefully about 12 months,” he said. “Your work will help ensure the freedoms we Americans all hold dear.”

Newman, adjutant general of Virginia, said the 29th Division had long stood out in the military, often holding leadership roles in a variety of combat situations.

He said attending sendoff ceremonies throughout Virginia on Tuesday was the highest honor he could have received, in part because of the great confidence he has in the Headquarters and Headquarters Company.

“Thank you for your service of the Guard, our community, and our nation,” Newman said.

Capt. Douglas B. Barker, the local unit’s commander, told the soldiers that he was reminded of some comments at a recent Memorial Day service. He said that to answer the nation’s call and putting that duty above all else highlighted the next greatest generation.

Virginia Army National Guardsman Richard Shull of Elkton walks hand-in-hand with his wife, Kam, to Tuesday evening’s departure ceremony at Shentel Stadium in Winchester. (Photo by Jeff Taylor)

That dedication made this group so revered, setting an example for generations to come, he said.

“I offer my personal thanks to you and your families for the sacrifice you are making on the part of our nation,” Barker added. “Have confidence in your training, have confidence in your equipment, have confidence in your leadership, and above all, have confidence in yourselves.

“Gentlemen, ever forward!”

Sgt. 1st Class Thomas Clarke closed the ceremony, telling the soldiers to take a little more time with their family members and loved ones before getting on the buses to take them to Washington Dulles International Airport for their flight to Mississippi.

“Although we do not know precisely where we will go, I promise you this — we will serve with honor,” he said.

In a telephone interview before Tuesday’s departure ceremony, National Guard Capt. Dayna Rowden said about 810 soldiers from Virginia were being sent to Camp Shelby for additional training. She said they were to join about 200 members of the Colorado National Guard. Rowden could not provide exact numbers for the troops deployed from the local Guard unit.

The Virginia Army National Guard held four other departure ceremonies on Tuesday. The others were for A Company, 3rd Battalion, 116th Infantry at Piedmont Community College in Charlottesville; B Company, 3rd Battalion, 116th Infantry at the Woodstock Armory; C Company, 3rd Battalion, 116th Infantry at Heritage High School in Leesburg; and D Company, 3rd Battalion, 116th Infantry and F Company, 429th Brigade Support Battalion at the University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg.