Dozens of families said goodbye to their loved ones at an Army National Guard deployment ceremony Wednesday morning.
Soldiers, family and friends gathered at Christ United Methodist Church on Old Canton Road in Jackson. Members of the Foxtrot Company, 1st Battalion, 171st General Support Aviation Battalion will start their one year mission to Afghanistan on Friday.
Secretary of State Delbert Hoseman addressed the team, which will be responsible for medical evacuations of injured soldiers.
While patriotism was on full display the send-off is bittersweet. "Sad, hate to leave, but it's what I got to do," said Joseph Halmstad with the Army National Guard. His wife, Jessica, said, "I'm very proud of him. This is my second rodeo - each time they say it gets easier, but it really doesn't."
In all, 46 soldiers from Mississippi will head to Fort Hood, Texas, for mobilization training. They'll touch down in Afghanistan in the spring.
Copyright 2012 WLBT. All rights reserved.
WLBT 3 - Fox 40
