Members of the New York Army National Guard’s “Triple Deuces” received a rousing send-off Friday, Feb. 15.
There were appearances by local dignitaries and inspirational and challenging words from the adjutant general of New York state. There were good-bye hugs and well-wishes from parents, spouses, children and friends.
After bowing their heads in prayer during the benediction, 130 service members sang along as the Army Song played over the loudspeakers in the New York State Armory in Hornell. They filed out in single file, each receiving words of encouragement from Rep. Tom Reed, R-Corning, and other state and local officials.
The Hornell Armory has been the site of many such deployments, but Friday morning’s ceremony for the National Guard’s 222nd Military Police Company seemed as fresh and vital as those that have come before. One speaker suggested, that if the Armory’s walls could talk, they would describe a litany of American heroes passing through, willing to make the ultimate sacrifice for their country.
“This is a very historic building,” said Hornell Mayor Shawn Hogan, noting the Armory has been the point of departure for generations of soldiers leaving to fight the nation’s battles.
“This is an historic moment for the entire community and for you,” Hogan told the soldiers. “You are the sons and daughters of the City of Hornell. We embrace you and we will be here when you return.”
The event marked the soldiers’ transition to federal military service and post-mobilization training at Camp Shelby, Miss. After training, they will deploy for a year-long mission in Qatar, a country in the Persian Gulf. There, they will conduct security force operations for U.S. facilities “If I was a parent, this deployment would be a good deployment,’ said Major General Patrick A. Murphy, the Adjutant General of New York State since 2010.
Murphy said the soldiers will play an important behind-the-scenes role in the success of the mission. He challenged local supporters to “stay connected” through the duration of their loved one’s deployment.
“The routine of doing what we do every day is one of our biggest enemies. So why do I tell you that? First to the soldiers, you have to guard against that. You have to change your routine and you have to watch out for each other. But to the family and supporters here today, you can help us. You can stay connected to your soldier through the entire deployment, from start to finish.”
Members of the New York Army National Guard’s “Triple Deuces” received a rousing send-off Friday, Feb. 15.
There were appearances by local dignitaries and inspirational and challenging words from the adjutant general of New York state. There were good-bye hugs and well-wishes from parents, spouses, children and friends.
After bowing their heads in prayer during the benediction, 130 service members sang along as the Army Song played over the loudspeakers in the New York State Armory in Hornell. They filed out in single file, each receiving words of encouragement from Rep. Tom Reed, R-Corning, and other state and local officials.
The Hornell Armory has been the site of many such deployments, but Friday morning’s ceremony for the National Guard’s 222nd Military Police Company seemed as fresh and vital as those that have come before. One speaker suggested, that if the Armory’s walls could talk, they would describe a litany of American heroes passing through, willing to make the ultimate sacrifice for their country.
“This is a very historic building,” said Hornell Mayor Shawn Hogan, noting the Armory has been the point of departure for generations of soldiers leaving to fight the nation’s battles.
“This is an historic moment for the entire community and for you,” Hogan told the soldiers. “You are the sons and daughters of the City of Hornell. We embrace you and we will be here when you return.”
The event marked the soldiers’ transition to federal military service and post-mobilization training at Camp Shelby, Miss. After training, they will deploy for a year-long mission in Qatar, a country in the Persian Gulf. There, they will conduct security force operations for U.S. facilities “If I was a parent, this deployment would be a good deployment,’ said Major General Patrick A. Murphy, the Adjutant General of New York State since 2010.
Murphy said the soldiers will play an important behind-the-scenes role in the success of the mission. He challenged local supporters to “stay connected” through the duration of their loved one’s deployment.
“The routine of doing what we do every day is one of our biggest enemies. So why do I tell you that? First to the soldiers, you have to guard against that. You have to change your routine and you have to watch out for each other. But to the family and supporters here today, you can help us. You can stay connected to your soldier through the entire deployment, from start to finish.”
