Photo By Sgt. Rodney Foliente | Soldiers and their families from the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division,...... read more read more
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By Sgt. Rodney Foliente
2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division
FORT CARSON, Colo. – The 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, conducted a casing ceremony at Fort Carson, Colo., Aug. 20, 2008, to signify its imminent deployment to Iraq.
This deployment will mark the third time the Warhorse Brigade has answered the nation's call to deploy to Iraq since Operation Iraqi Freedom began in 2003.
"This ceremony signifies that we're deploying, that we've got a job to do and that we're going to get that job done," said Spc. Anthony Freeman, signal support specialist, Company D, 1st Squadron, 10th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd BCT, 4th ID, who calls Sierra Vista, Ariz., home.
"I'll do what I have to do to support the guys I'm going out there with. The primary goal is to make sure our Soldiers come back," said Freeman, who has deployed to Afghanistan and is ready for his first deployment to Iraq.
"These are the true heroes of this generation, who signed up at a time of war to defend the freedom that all Americans enjoy and are doing the hard work of executing the desires of our nation and securing our national interests," said Col. Butch Kievenaar, 2nd BCT commander.
"I'm proud of all these Soldiers and how they represent the United States. They're ready to go and they want to get down to business and do what their nation asks," he said.
He said that the Soldiers have been training and working hard to get ready for deployment and stressed the importance of allowing Soldiers to spend as much time with their families as possible.
"It's now time for our Soldiers to be with their families before we depart," said Kievenaar. "The unsung and often unseen heroes are our spouses and family members, who did not sign up for the Army, but who give of themselves so freely and provide the nation with their most precious gift: their loved one to defend the nation."
The whole day of the ceremony was dedicated to allowing that family time.
Warhorse family members and Soldiers started the day with an early morning run, including children on bikes, on strollers and various pets running or riding along.
"It was a fabulous time. It's a great day and we'll continue on to an organizational day as a celebration of all the hard work that we've done and a chance for us to be with our families," said Kievenaar.
Throughout the day, children, spouses, mothers and fathers expressed excitement about being able to spend time with their Soldiers and see another slice of their Soldiers' world.
"It was nice to see my daddy in the [ceremony] and go to work with him and have lots of fun," said Elizabeth Elgin, 5-year-old daughter of Capt. Jamie Elgin, commander, Company G, 3rd Battalion, 16th Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd BCT.
"It was a good opportunity for our families to get together and have a good time and get to know each other. It keeps them in the loop so they don't feel so alone when we're deployed," said Staff Sgt. Edward Taylor, communications security custodian, Company B, 2nd BCT Special Troops Battalion.
His wife, Doni, agreed, "It was good to be able spend time with my husband and beneficial to get to know the family members of the unit and the people that he's going to spend the next 12 months with."
The Taylors, who call home wherever the Army puts them, are preparing for their fourth deployment. This will be his third time in Iraq.
| Date Taken: | 08.21.2008 |
| Date Posted: | 08.25.2008 13:21 |
| Story ID: | 22862 |
| Location: | US |
| Web Views: | 212 |
| Downloads: | 187 |
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