Photo By 1st Sgt. Jessica Barnett | Soldiers of the 1st Battalion, 161st Field Artillery and attached 35th Military Police...... read more read more
SALINA, Kansas - Kansas guardsmen of the 1st Battalion, 161st Field Artillery and attached 35th Military Police were honored at a departure ceremony by family, friends and co-workers at the Salina Bicentennial Center, March 2, prior to departing for a year-long deployment to the Horn of Africa.
The 161 FA will be relieving soldiers of the Kansas National Guard’s 2nd Combined Arms Battalion, 137th Infantry.
Prior to arriving in country, 161 FA will make a short stop at Camp Atterbury, Ind., for additional mission-specific training.
As the Soldiers marched into formation on the drill floor, the American Legion Riders thanked each of them for their great service and sacrifice for their country.
Brig. Gen. Lee Tafanelli, the Kansas adjutant general, and Lt. Gov. of Kansas Dr. Jeffery Colyer, paid tribute to the deploying Soldiers, family members and community with special advice and words of gratitude for the year ahead.
“These soldiers standing in front of you today will play a key role in shaping the future of the continent, but more importantly, the future of the United States,” said Tafanelli. “To our families, I can’t say thank you enough for the sacrifice and support that you give our Soldiers each and every day by allowing them to wear the uniform and serve in the Kansas National Guard.”
“Several years ago we were a strategic force, only used in those rarest of occasions. But more today confirms that for the last eight years the National Guard, the 161, has been at the forefront of an operational force and they will continue to do so in the future. And for that we say ‘Thank you’.”
Colyer personally identified with the soldiers and their family as he, too, has made the same sacrifice for his country as a volunteer with the International Medical Corps.
“There are many challenges that these [Soldiers] face. They face them with dignity, courage and professionalism,” said Colyer. “There are 5,500 Soldiers and 2,200 Airmen in the Kansas Guard. About 550 will be leaving us today. And they serve across the world in various theaters - in Afghanistan. They have served in Iraq and they have served in the Horn of Africa and many, many other theaters. I have worked in many of those theaters and I know there is hardship. Each of these men and women are going to face that hardship, but when they return that hardship will be a little bit less in the place that they left behind. Certainly it will be more peaceful there than what they left behind, and most importantly, Kansas and America will be more secure because of the sacrifices these men and women are making.”
Lt. Col. Thomas Burke, battalion commander of the 1st Battalion, 161st Field Artillery, addressed his troops after the distinguished guests. Following his speech, Tafanelli and Colyer presented an official Kansas flag to Burke, which was flown over the capital building Oct. 5, 2010, to proudly be able to represent during their deployment overseas.
For Burke the departure ceremony marked another mile stone for the deployment, on top of saying goodbye to family and friends.
“We are excited to have completed another phase of training. This was our second phase,” said Burke. “We have one more phase at Camp Atterbury, Ind. We are really happy about what we have accomplished up to this point, so far. We have a lot more hard work ahead of us that we and the soldiers of this battalion are going to have to do. But we are ready to meet the challenge and move on to Africa and help relieve the other unit that is there right now.”
After bringing the ceremony to a close with the singing of the Army song, tearful goodbyes were exchanged.
“It’s sad and bitter sweet to say goodbye to my family and friends,” said Spc. Ginger Jenkins, of Battery C, 1st Battalion, 161st Field Artillery, and a Manhattan, Kan, resident. “I am really excited to go on this deployment for new experiences, but it is sad to leave everyone behind. I know I will get a good experience out of it and meet new people … I hope I learn a lot out of it and become a stronger person.”
| Date Taken: | 03.02.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 06.03.2011 13:33 |
| Story ID: | 71537 |
| Location: | SALINA, KS, US |
| Web Views: | 84 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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