Thursday, March 04, 2010

Send-off ceremonies planned for nearly 400 Wisconsin Army National Guard Soldiers

March 4, 2010 - State, local and military officials will honor about 400 Wisconsin Army National Guard Soldiers in four separate send-off ceremonies Saturday and Sunday before they depart for their tour of duty in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

The affected Soldiers are part of the Headquarters Company in Chippewa Falls, Company A (Forward Support) in Hayward, the 273rd Engineer Company (Sapper) in Medford and 950th Engineer Company (Clearance) in Spooner and Superior. The Soldiers were notified in October of the mobilization. Following local sendoff events, the troops will report to Fort McCoy for several weeks of mobilization training before departing for Iraq. A battalion-sized send-off ceremony will be held when mobilization requirements have been completed.

All events are open to the public and will take place Saturday and Sunday [March 6 and 7]:

Medford - 273rd Engineer Company (Sapper)
Time: Saturday, March 6, 10 a.m.
Place: Medford Middle School, 509 Clark Street, Medford, Wis. 54451
The Medford send-off ceremony will honor about 60 National Guard Soldiers. Also present will be family members, friends, and community supporters. Music will be provided by the Medford Middle School Band and choir. The event will last approximately 45 minutes.

Superior - 950th Engineer Company (Clearance)
Time: Saturday, March 6, 3 p.m.
Place: Superior High School, 2600 Catlin Avenue, Superior, Wis. 54880
The Superior send-off ceremony will honor about 115 National Guard Soldiers. Also present will be family members, friends, and community supporters. Music will be provided by the Holy Assumption Church Choir. The event will last approximately 90 minutes. Hayward - Company A (Forward Support), 724th

Engineer Battalion
Time: Sunday, March 7, noon
Place: Hayward High School, 10320 N. Greenwood Lane, Hayward, Wis. 54843
The Hayward send-off ceremony will honor about 100 National Guard Soldiers. Also present will be family members, friends, and community supporters. Music will be provided by the Hayward High School Band. The event will last approximately 45 minutes.

Chippewa Falls - Headquarters Company, 724th Engineer Battalion
Time: Sunday, March 7, 4 p.m.
Place: Chippewa Falls Middle School, 750 Tropicana Boulevard, Chippewa Falls, Wis. 54729

The Chippewa Falls send-off ceremony will honor about 90 National Guard Soldiers. Also present will be family members, friends and community supporters. Music will be provided by the Chippewa Falls High School Band. The event will last approximately 30 minutes.

The 724th Engineer Battalion last mobilized to Iraq in March 2003 to July 2004 where they provided engineer support to coalition forces.

Since Sept. 11, 2001, every unit in the Wisconsin National Guard has deployed Soldiers and Airmen in support of the global war on terrorism. There are currently about 100 Guard members on active duty in Iraq, Afghanistan and several other places around the world.

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