Monroe, NC. Local National Guard Unit Prepares For Deployment.

January 2, 2009

Monroe’s own, B Battery 1st. Battalion, 113th Field Artillery Unit, held mobilization ceremonies at the Central Academy of Technology & Arts on Brewer Dr. in Monroe, N.C. This unit is part of the North Carolina National Guard 30th Heavy Brigade Combat Team. Approximately 4,000 soldiers from the 30th are deploying in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Initially, the B Battery will head to Camp Shelby in Mississippi. They will enter their first phase of training there. In mid-March, the unit will head to the Mohave Desert and Fort Irwin, California. Fort Irwin has mock-up Iraqi villages with Iraqi citizens where the soldiers will learn to interact. The unit will experience mock terrorists attacks and real war training to prepare them for what they may face in reality. The unit returns to Monroe, NC in April where one big mobilization ceremony will be held in Fayetteville, NC. The B Battery orders will place them in Iraq for 12 months.

I attended this ceremony and it was an honor to be there. I was very touched by what I observed this day. Being former military myself, I have a soft spot in my heart for military personnel. I’ve been there and done that. It was a long time ago but you never forget. I watched these Heroes in uniform who may likely be put in harms way in the future, interact with family, children and total strangers who approached and thanked them for their service. I observed the pride of Mothers and Fathers as they clutched the arms of their sons and daughters. You could just feel the pride of these families. I watched large men wearing our nations uniform, reach down and gently lift their own children or others and just hold them for a long time. Little girls hugging their Father’s neck and and big tough soldiers loving every minute of it. I was behind a video camera the entire time and used my camera to hide the lump that appeared in my throat many times as I viewed through the lens.

I produced the video below in honor of these brave men and women. The citizens and leaders of Monroe, and the surrounding area really turned out for this ceremony. It was a packed auditorium, standing room only. North Carolina Congresswoman, Sue Myrick, spoke at this event as well as Monroe, N.C. Mayor, Bobby Kilgore. N.C. Senator Eddie Goodall attended. Council member Billy Jordan attended as well as Sheriff Eddie Cathey. The local support was outstanding.

Citizen Soldier. Monroe, N.C. National Guard Mobilization Ceremony Video

Enjoy or download the song I used in the video

Citizen Soldier. 3 Doors Down

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