A Gainesville send-off for the 802nd

GAINESVILLE - It was a send-off to remember Tuesday in Gainesville for the 802nd Ordinance Company, U.S. Army Reserve, now bound for Texas, and then Afghanistan.

The event began at the Reserve Unit's headquarters on Shallowford Road with a motorcade that formed and headed to Riverside Military Academy. The rain that fell did not dampen the spirits of the families of the reservists as the community united to say good-bye in another unit deployment of the Middle East.

Gainesville Mayor Myrtle Figueras and Hall County Commission Vice Chairman Ashley Bell jointly proclaimed Tuesday as 802nd Ordinance Company Day.

Lt. Governor Casey Cagle said the community admired the soldiers and their families who are willing to serve and send their loved ones to a troubled foreign land.

“These soldiers will not only be protecting our nation, but will be helping another stand up and protect itself,” Cagle said.

Representative Carl Rogers, who twice has witnessed his son deploy to the Middle East, expressed the hope that the Obama Administration will show stronger support to America’s commander in Afghanistan.

Rogers picked some reservist applause from the capacity audience of soldiers and civilian supporters when he said he hopes the administration gives General McCrystal the resources he needs to ‘get the job done and come home.”

“General McCrystal, once he got the job in Afghanistan, it was some 70 days he was there before any contact was made back to him,” Rogers said.

Also appearing on stage were Senator Lee Hawkins and State Representative Doug Collins.

The company's last deployment was in 2003 to Kuwait to support Operation Desert Storm.
Company Commander Captain Todd Bostick said at the Riverside Military Academy Theatre it was a sendoff his soldiers would remember the rest of their lives.

“And we’ll take that with us and look forward to seeing you when we return,” he said.

After Stanley Pierce sang God Bless America and the event ended, the 802nd filed outside for a dismissal formation.
Heidi Angel from North Augusta, South Carolina was among the relatives and friends busy taking snapshots.
She wanted a good picture of her son, Private First Class Mark Owen.

"It's because of what my son is doing for us," she said.” He’s going over there for us and I'm very proud of him."