CONTACT: Eric Durr, 518-786-4581

FOR RELEASE: Sunday, Feb 21, 2010

HORSEHEADS, NY (02/22/2010)(readMedia)-- More than 800 friends, family and well-wishers packed the Wings of Eagle Discovery Center here Sunday. Feb. 21, as the 180 Soldiers of the New York Army National Guard's 827th Engineer Company departed for active duty in Afghanistan. The unit, which included Soldiers from the Buffalo-based 152nd Engineer Support Company, has been preparing for its ten-month mission in Afghanistan for since 2008. "A little over 18 months ago your lives changed drastically when the unit found out it was gong to war," said Capt. Jeffery Miles, the company commander. "It feels so surreal. Many soldiers put their lives on hold, like the big trip you have to put on hold for another year. These are the unseen sacrifices soldiers make." The deployment ceremony, hosted by the American Red Cross, gave the Soldiers and their families' one more chance to be together and be recognized for their sacrifices. Mobilization ceremonies were held in Buffalo and in Walton, Delaware County, for elements of the company on Thursday. Feb. 18. Brig. General Michael Swezey, commander of the 53rd Troop Command, assured the Soldiers and their families that the New York National Guard would be looking for the families at home as the Soldiers service in Afghanistan. "The message I came with today is we got your back," Swezey said. "We'll be standing by taking care of your families." The 827th, a horizontal construction company that specializes in road construction, will be working to upgrade roads and bridges in Afghanistan during its deployment. Following the ceremony the Soldiers boarded a charter plane heading for Fort McCoy, Wis. The 827th will train there for approximately 30 days before deploying to Afghanistan for ten months. For this upcoming deployment to Afghanistan, the 827th will be doing road construction with D7-Dozers, scrapers, graders, and general earthmoving equipment. They are regularly called to assist New York with snow removal and flood support such as their recent State Mission with flooding of Delaware and Sullivan counties June 18, 2007. Photo Cutlines: 100221-A-2099W-003 HORSEHEADS, NY-- New York Army National Guard Soldiers of the 827th Engineer Company board a chartered jet at the Elmira-Corning Regional Airport in Horseheads, NY, February 21, 2010. The unit is enroute to Fort McCoy, Wisconsin, for additional training before heading off for a 10 month deployment in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Photo by Staff Sgt. Thomas Wheeler, New York Army National Guard, 138th Public Affairs Detachment (Released) 100221-A-2099W-002 HORSEHEADS, NY--New York Army National Guard Sgt. Carl Sanger, wife Kelly, daughter Kayla age 12, and daughter Jessica age 10, take a few minutes to good bye at the close of a bitter-sweet deployment ceremony held at the Wings of Eagle Discovery Center at the Elmira-Corning Regional Airport in Horseheads, NY, February 21, 2010.Photo by Staff Sgt. Thomas Wheeler, New York Army National Guard, 138th Public Affairs Detachment (Released) 100221A-5362A-006a HORSEHEADS, NY--New York Army National Guard Sgt. Patrick McGovern, a member of the 1st Battalion 69th Infantry who deployed to Iraq in 2004, shares a moment with his brother Spec. Joseph McGovern who is deploying to Afghanistan with the 827th Engineer Co. during a deployment ceremony held here on Sunday, Feb. 21. Photo by Staff Sgt. Kevin Abbott, New York Army National Guard, Joint Forces Headquarters--NY (Released)

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