These photographs were taken at the deployment ceremonies of Vermont National Guard troops to Afghanistan on December 10, 2009 at the Armory in Bennington, Vermont and December 11, 2009 at the UVM field house in Burlington, VT. Whether one agrees or not with the American foreign policy and plans of President Obama to send 30,000 more troops to Afghanistan, it is essential to remember that each man and woman on their way to Afghanistan or currently serving in Afghanistan and the families, and friends they leave behind need all the support they can get from their hometown communites.
From the Bennington Banner December 11, 2009:
About 80 members of the Vermont National Guard B Troop, based at the Bennington Armory, began a year-long deployment Thursday, the majority of which will be spent in Afghanistan. First, however, the soldiers will travel to Camp Atterbury in Indiana for final training and preparations. The soldiers, part of Task Force Phoenix, have already completed training at Fort Polk in Louisiana.
A send-off ceremony at the armory Thursday afternoon was both jubilant and melancholic. While the assembled troops were in high spirits -- laughing and joking -- many of their family and friends fought tears, some without success, including Amy Julius, who was there to bid farewell to her uncle, Sgt. Roger Livingston, and cousin, Spc. Andrew Hall.
"I’m very sad. I hurt inside," Julius said while crying. "I know what they’re doing is for a good cause,but still, all the loved ones they’re leaving behind ..."
http://www.benningtonbanner.com/ci_13973371
Emotional farewell Guard troops receive rousing sendoff as they deploy
by Neal Goswami
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http://www.benningtonbanner.com/ci_13973371
Emotional farewell Guard troops receive rousing sendoff as they deploy
http://www.benningtonbanner.com/ci_13981346
"Vermont families of war dead deal with mixed emotions"
From Vermont Public Radio:
http://www.vpr.net/news_detail/86648/
