Indiana National Guard Sgt. Donald Nelson said he was less worried about his own safety as he headed for Iraq than he was about leaving behind his wife and daughter, whom the couple adopted in May. "I know I've got a lot of family and friends that will take care of them," he said, "but still, it's not me that's there for them."Nelson, of Bloomfield, said goodbye Wednesday to his wife, 7-month-old daughter and several other family members who traveled to Indianapolis for a departure ceremony for more than 3,400 soldiers headed to Iraq. His 8-year-old niece from Chicago wiped away tears as she held up a sign saying "Sgt. Nelson, We Love You," with a heart in place of the word love.
They were among more than 20,000 people who packed parts of the RCA Dome, some holding signs supporting the troops and others waving U.S. flags. Many soldiers spent time in the stands with their families before the start of the ceremony, which marked the largest single deployment of Indiana National Guard troops since World War II.
During the ceremony, the 76th Infantry Brigade Combat Team and their family members were thanked for their service by several congressmen, Sen. Richard Lugar, Gov. Mitch Daniels and Colts president Bill Polian, who drew the most applause. "Your commitment to your fellow citizens, in Indiana and now a half a world away, allows the rest of us to enjoy the fruits of freedom," Polian said. "For that, we owe you a debt that we can never fully repay."
Col. Courtney Carr, the 76th Infantry Brigade commander, said the daily routines of National Guard families will be a little more difficult with their loved ones overseas. He paused to hold back emotion as he recalled cooking breakfast Tuesday for his 4-year-old son and 6-year-old daughter. For the next year, he said, things like meals, homework, sporting events and doctor appointments will fall on other family members. "We've chosen to be soldiers knowing the nation would call us to serve," Carr said. "Our families, on the other hand, they kind of get drafted."