76th Brigade Gets Indy Send Off
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By David [email protected]
Others attended the 76th Brigade's departure ceremony for their husbands, wives, fathers or mothers.
Some were even seeing off more than one family member.[[In-content Ad]]Rhonda Fyffe, Evansville, had to say goodbye to her husband, Spc. John Chester Fyffe, and her son, Spc. John Christian Fyffe. John Chester is a chaplain's assistant, and John Christian is a medic. Both are being deployed to Iraq with the rest of the 76th after 60-90 days of training in Georgia.
"I'm very proud of them," Rhonda said between hugs and photos with her family, tears in all their eyes. "I'm very overwhelmed with just pride and love, but I'm going to miss them."
The Fyffe father and son are two of the 3,400 soldiers of the 76th Brigade going to Iraq in March for Operation Iraqi Freedom. The Brigade received mobilization orders in September, and is the largest single mobilization in Indiana since World War II.
Alpha Co., 1-293rd, based out of Warsaw, includes 100 soldiers from the Warsaw and Peru areas, as well as 50 other servicemen from other parts of the state. They are part of the 76th Brigade which departed Indiana Wednesday.
The departure ceremony for the Nighthawks, as the 76th Brigade is known, started at 1 p.m. in the RCA Dome and included music, posting of the colors, the national anthem, videos and 12 guest speakers.
Bill Polian, the Indianapolis Colts president, received perhaps the loudest applause and cheers. The National Football League team put a blue Colts t-shirt on every soldier's seat.
Of course, there were some Bears fans in the Dome.
"It's OK," Polian said. "I can hear from the Bears fans, too. Where are they?"
After a burst of applause from sections of the audience, Polian continued, "Whether we're Bears, Colts or Steelers, we are all Americans."
The RCA Dome is to be torn down with the completion of the old one. Last week, a celebration was held for the RCA Dome, Polian said.
"The most memorable moment wasn't celebrated because it didn't happen until today," he said, with another round of applause following his comments.
He also reminded everyone that football and basketball players aren't the real heroes. Heroes are the men and women who wear the signature of the United States, he said.
Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard was the first of the dozen men to speak and said he was honored to represent all the mayors of the state. Seventeen years ago, as a Marine, he said he was exactly where the 76th Brigade was, leaving his wife and child behind.
"It was a difficult time for me," he said, "as it is for you today."
Like the speakers to follow, Ballard praised the Army National Guard soldiers for their time, sacrifice and commitment.
"Be proud of your mission. Be proud of your commitment. You truly do represent the best of America," Ballard said.
"You are the very best the state of Indiana and the United States of America has to offer," Congressman Joe Donnelly said. He promised them that while the soldiers are away, "We will do whatever needs to be done for your families so you can be at peace."
The families of the servicemen, Congressman Brad Ellsworth said, have a huge burden to shoulder while the guardsmen are away. He offered the prayers of everyone, and thanked them for their dedication.
Other Congressman on hand to speak included Mark Souder, Mike Pence, Steve Buyer and Dan Burton.
Buyer told the soldiers to "trust your military leaders, trust your training, trust your (Army) buddies ... ."
"All this boils down to is to say thanks," said Burton. Thanks for laying their lives and time down on the line, for protecting the people of the U.S., for their sacrifices and for the difficulties they will face in the year to come.
Burton also thanked the families and ended by saying, "We love you, guys. We appreciate what you are doing. Come back to us safe."
Of all the speakers, Colonel Courtney P. Carr, 76th Infantry Brigade commander, was the one to choke up as he remembered his family being left behind and the load that soldiers' families will carry in the soldiers' absence.
"They kind of get drafted," he said. "What you all do helps us to focus on our mission."
He also told his soldiers, "This is a big day for us. I'm personally humbled by the big send-off celebration."
The Nighthawks are proud to be Hoosiers, he said. He thanked Gov. Mitch Daniels for his vision, leadership and support. As governor of Indiana, Daniels is the commander-in-chief of the Indiana National Guard.
Major Gen. R. Martin Umbarger said, "I stand before you today with an immense feeling of pride. ... You are the few serving and wearing the uniform for the benefit of many."
Umbarger asked immediate family members to rise to their feet. When all the moms, fathers, sons and daughters were standing, Umbarger said, "Let's thank them for all their sacrifices." As the families had applauded when the soldiers marched onto the field, the soldiers returned the favor upon Umbarger's words with a standing ovation.
Lugar said the assembly was unusual because the role of the National Guard has changed in this war. That's happened, he said, because the Armed Forces are stretched thin because of responsibilities across the world. The 76th Brigade will be divided over five to six different provinces in Iraq.
"This is the critical year, and this is the year Hoosiers are going to be there," Lugar said.
Daniels, the last of the dozen to speak, said the Indiana National Guard is the "best National Guard in the United States of America."
In his speech, Daniels addressed Carr after quoting from the seventh chapter of the book of Ezra in the Old Testament in the Bible and said, "I know you well. I am confident that Indiana has the right man for this assignment."
Daniels also presented state flags and the governor's coin to every battalion commander.
Others attended the 76th Brigade's departure ceremony for their husbands, wives, fathers or mothers.
Some were even seeing off more than one family member.[[In-content Ad]]Rhonda Fyffe, Evansville, had to say goodbye to her husband, Spc. John Chester Fyffe, and her son, Spc. John Christian Fyffe. John Chester is a chaplain's assistant, and John Christian is a medic. Both are being deployed to Iraq with the rest of the 76th after 60-90 days of training in Georgia.
"I'm very proud of them," Rhonda said between hugs and photos with her family, tears in all their eyes. "I'm very overwhelmed with just pride and love, but I'm going to miss them."
The Fyffe father and son are two of the 3,400 soldiers of the 76th Brigade going to Iraq in March for Operation Iraqi Freedom. The Brigade received mobilization orders in September, and is the largest single mobilization in Indiana since World War II.
Alpha Co., 1-293rd, based out of Warsaw, includes 100 soldiers from the Warsaw and Peru areas, as well as 50 other servicemen from other parts of the state. They are part of the 76th Brigade which departed Indiana Wednesday.
The departure ceremony for the Nighthawks, as the 76th Brigade is known, started at 1 p.m. in the RCA Dome and included music, posting of the colors, the national anthem, videos and 12 guest speakers.
Bill Polian, the Indianapolis Colts president, received perhaps the loudest applause and cheers. The National Football League team put a blue Colts t-shirt on every soldier's seat.
Of course, there were some Bears fans in the Dome.
"It's OK," Polian said. "I can hear from the Bears fans, too. Where are they?"
After a burst of applause from sections of the audience, Polian continued, "Whether we're Bears, Colts or Steelers, we are all Americans."
The RCA Dome is to be torn down with the completion of the old one. Last week, a celebration was held for the RCA Dome, Polian said.
"The most memorable moment wasn't celebrated because it didn't happen until today," he said, with another round of applause following his comments.
He also reminded everyone that football and basketball players aren't the real heroes. Heroes are the men and women who wear the signature of the United States, he said.
Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard was the first of the dozen men to speak and said he was honored to represent all the mayors of the state. Seventeen years ago, as a Marine, he said he was exactly where the 76th Brigade was, leaving his wife and child behind.
"It was a difficult time for me," he said, "as it is for you today."
Like the speakers to follow, Ballard praised the Army National Guard soldiers for their time, sacrifice and commitment.
"Be proud of your mission. Be proud of your commitment. You truly do represent the best of America," Ballard said.
"You are the very best the state of Indiana and the United States of America has to offer," Congressman Joe Donnelly said. He promised them that while the soldiers are away, "We will do whatever needs to be done for your families so you can be at peace."
The families of the servicemen, Congressman Brad Ellsworth said, have a huge burden to shoulder while the guardsmen are away. He offered the prayers of everyone, and thanked them for their dedication.
Other Congressman on hand to speak included Mark Souder, Mike Pence, Steve Buyer and Dan Burton.
Buyer told the soldiers to "trust your military leaders, trust your training, trust your (Army) buddies ... ."
"All this boils down to is to say thanks," said Burton. Thanks for laying their lives and time down on the line, for protecting the people of the U.S., for their sacrifices and for the difficulties they will face in the year to come.
Burton also thanked the families and ended by saying, "We love you, guys. We appreciate what you are doing. Come back to us safe."
Of all the speakers, Colonel Courtney P. Carr, 76th Infantry Brigade commander, was the one to choke up as he remembered his family being left behind and the load that soldiers' families will carry in the soldiers' absence.
"They kind of get drafted," he said. "What you all do helps us to focus on our mission."
He also told his soldiers, "This is a big day for us. I'm personally humbled by the big send-off celebration."
The Nighthawks are proud to be Hoosiers, he said. He thanked Gov. Mitch Daniels for his vision, leadership and support. As governor of Indiana, Daniels is the commander-in-chief of the Indiana National Guard.
Major Gen. R. Martin Umbarger said, "I stand before you today with an immense feeling of pride. ... You are the few serving and wearing the uniform for the benefit of many."
Umbarger asked immediate family members to rise to their feet. When all the moms, fathers, sons and daughters were standing, Umbarger said, "Let's thank them for all their sacrifices." As the families had applauded when the soldiers marched onto the field, the soldiers returned the favor upon Umbarger's words with a standing ovation.
Lugar said the assembly was unusual because the role of the National Guard has changed in this war. That's happened, he said, because the Armed Forces are stretched thin because of responsibilities across the world. The 76th Brigade will be divided over five to six different provinces in Iraq.
"This is the critical year, and this is the year Hoosiers are going to be there," Lugar said.
Daniels, the last of the dozen to speak, said the Indiana National Guard is the "best National Guard in the United States of America."
In his speech, Daniels addressed Carr after quoting from the seventh chapter of the book of Ezra in the Old Testament in the Bible and said, "I know you well. I am confident that Indiana has the right man for this assignment."
Daniels also presented state flags and the governor's coin to every battalion commander.
Have a news tip? Email [email protected] or Call/Text 360-922-3092