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National Guard unit gets warm sendoff at Navy Yard ceremony

E-mail|Link|Comments () June 13, 2009 01:58 PM

(John Tlumacki/Globe Staff)

Specialist Luis Burgos of Roxbury said goodbye to his daughter, Adrian, 6, after the ceremonies were over.

By Nandini Jayakrishna, Globe Correspondent

With tears, hugs, martial music, and high praise from the governor, a Massachusetts National Guard unit that is headed to Iraq said farewell today to scores of friends and family members at a ceremony at the Charlestown Navy Yard.

"It's exciting to be part of history," said Captain Paul A. Barnett, 38, of Wareham, a chaplain in the 101st Engineering Battalion. "We are doing something not only for our generation but for the generations to come, and not only for our country but for the world."

His mother, Rita J. Barnett, 59, whose red hat read, "We are family," said, "Right now, I'm feeling weak, numb. Don't make me cry."

"I have my Kleenex right here," she said, laughing and patting her shirt.

Standing in front of the historic USS Constitution, Governor Deval Patrick lauded the soldiers for their unwavering loyalty and devotion to their country. And he asked them to draw inspiration from the vessel before them.

"What a glorious morning to recognize and acknowledge glorious service," Patrick said in his brief remarks. "Take inspiration from this ship as we do from you," he told the soldiers.

Patrick thanked the families and friends for their strength and courage, pledging his support to them. And to the men and women ready to embark on a dangerous mission in a foreign land, Patrick said, "We will be here when you come home safely."

One of the oldest units in the Army, the 101st fought in the Revolution and five major conflicts since. Eight of its soldiers have received the Congressional Medal of Honor, the country's highest military decoration.

Since September 11, 2001, more than half of the state's 8,000 National Guard soldiers and airmen have been deployed overseas to countries including Afghanistan, Iraq and Kuwait