INDIANAPOLIS — There were the usual patriotic songs and thousands of people waving small American Flags. There were speeches from dignitaries including Sen. Richard Lugar and Gov. Mitch Daniels.

But the eyes of Tammy Freitas told the real story of Wednesday’s send off ceremony for the 76th Infantry Brigade at the RCA Dome in Indianapolis.

They were filled with both tears of sadness and pride as she sat with her three children and friends preparing to say goodbye to her husband, Ken, who is part of the 152nd Calvary Regiment stationed at the New Albany National Guard headquarters. The 152nd is part of the 76th Brigade.

“I feel like a wreck,” Tammy said. “I’m very proud of him, but at the same time, I’m a wife and I worry about my husband.”

The Freitas live in Clarksville with their three children, ages 1, 3 and 7. As for her husband, Tammy said he was filled with mixed emotions as well.

“He doesn’t want to leave us,” she said. “He worries about us.”

There were 3,400 soldiers who felt just like Ken Freitas as they marched to their chairs on the RCA Dome field Wednesday afternoon.

From the Dome, members of the 76th Infantry Brigade will travel to Fort Stewart in Georgia where they will spend the next three months before being deployed to Iraq as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Their deployment will last at least one year.

This is the second and third time many of the soldiers in the brigade have been deployed to hostile areas. Wednesday’s ceremony was a way for Indiana to show support and say thanks for the soldiers’ dedication and sacrifice, Daniels said. It also was a way for invited family and friends to show their gratitude to the men and women who make up the brigade.

“This is pretty nice,” said Lt. Pat Riley — a Charlestown resident and member of the 152nd — as he prepared to march to his seat. “I think this is good for the soldiers to see people show their appreciation.”

Riley was deployed to Bosnia in 2002 and said training for the National Guard soldiers has improved in the past five years.

The soldiers trained at Camp Atterbury near Columbus for two weeks, but have had the last 10 days off to spend the holidays with their families. Wednesday’s ceremony marked the first day of their official deployment. The 3,400 members of the brigade come from 90 of Indiana’s 92 counties.

The event featured 12 guest speakers, including Indianapolis Colts’ President Bill Polian, who told the soldiers the true heroes don’t wear football uniforms, but Army fatigues.

“Last weekend, we celebrated the most memorable moments that have taken place in this Dome since it opened in 1984,” Polian said. “However, the most memorable moment wasn’t celebrated yet because it had not taken place until today.”

Polian’s remarks were greeted with a loud roar.

Five congressman, along with Lugar and Daniels, assured the soldiers and the 15,000 or so people in attendance that they would do whatever it takes to make sure the families are supported while their loved ones are serving overseas.

“We chose to be soldiers, but our families get drafted,” said Col. Courtney Carr, 76th Infantry Brigade Commander. “It can be stressful on our loved ones. The strength at home is crucial and it allows us to focus on the mission.”

Freitas said it is easy to get caught up, or overwhelmed, with the little things such as cutting the grass and taking care of the house. She said she leans on the support of her Graceland Baptist Church family. The church took two vans full of family and friends to the event.

Soldiers from the 76th Infantry Brigade have supported deployments to Bosnia, Afghanistan and Iraq.

However, many say they never get used to saying goodbye to jobs, friends and most of all, families and loved ones.

“I was OK until my 6-year-old started crying when he realized daddy was leaving,” Riley said. “That is when I lost it.”



SO YOU KNOW

• The 76th Infantry Brigade units set to deploy are Headquarters Company, Indianapolis; 1st Battalion, 151st Infantry Regiment, Jasper; 1st Squadron, 152nd Calvary Regiment, New Albany; 1st Battalion, 293rd Infantry Regiment, Fort Wayne; 1st Battalion, 163rd Field Artillery, Evansville; 113th Combat Support Battalion, Muncie; 76th Special Troops Battalion, Indianapolis; 1638th Transportation Company, Remington; Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion, 3-139th Field Artillery, Crawfordsville; and Battery A, 2-150th Field Artillery, Greencastle.

Indiana National Guard