20070525 Congressman Bartlett Honors Deploying National Guard Troops in Send-off Ceremony

Congressman Bartlett Honors Deploying National Guard Troops in Send-off Ceremony

May 26^th, 2007

Please join me in thanking these Maryland Men and Women in uniform for their service. May Godspeed and come home safely…

Maryland National Guards begin deployment to Iraq

by Katherine Mullen | Staff Writer Frederick Gazette

Friday, May 25, 2007

http://www.gazette.net/stories/052507/frednew142758_32386.shtml

More than 100 Maryland National Guard soldiers from the 1-175 Infantry Battalion and its Alpha Company gathered with family and friends during a deployment ceremony today at Baker Park in Frederick.

[…]

The 1-175 Infantry Battalion's mobilization is part of the largest combat deployment of Maryland National Guard soldiers since World War II. The unit includes 640 soldiers across the state.

According to Major Kristine Henry, spokeswoman for the Maryland National Guard, the 1-175 Infantry Battalion will join 540 additional Maryland National Guard soldiers deployed overseas.

During the ceremony at the park's bandshell, families waved small American flags and listened as National Guard commanders, Frederick County commissioners, and U.S. Rep. Roscoe G. Bartlett (R-Dist. 6) praised the soldiers for their sacrifice.

On a holiday weekend filled with busy travel plans and rising gas prices, Bartlett noted that the war is a distant thought for many. ''I just feel so fortunate to represent a district that is so patriotic," Bartlett said.

[…]

Read the entire article here: Maryland National Guards begin deployment to Iraq

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