Thousands Support Troops During Sendoff Ceremony
Texas National Guard 56th Brigade Combat Team Deployment - To the cheers of more than 30,000 family members in the stands, soldiers run out on the field at Floyd Casey Stadium. Photo By: Jason Raddin / Baylor Photography
Texas National Guard 56th Brigade Combat Team Deployment - Three soldiers lined up in the south endzone prepare for the start of the deployment ceremony. Photo By: Jason Raddin / Baylor Photography
Texas National Guard 56th Brigade Combat Team Deployment - More than 30,000 family members of deploying soldiers filled the stands at Floyd Casey Stadium for the emotional ceremony. Photo By: Clifford S. Cheney IV / Baylor Photography
Texas National Guard 56th Brigade Combat Team Deployment Photo By: Jason Raddin / Baylor Photography
Texas National Guard 56th Brigade Combat Team Deployment - Soldiers assembled by unit as they prepared to march into Floyd Casey Stadium. Photo By: Jason Raddin / Baylor Photography
Texas National Guard 56th Brigade Combat Team Deployment- More than 30,000 family members of deploying soldiers filled the stands at Floyd Casey Stadium for the emotional ceremony. Photo By: Clifford S. Cheney IV / Baylor Photography
Texas National Guard 56th Brigade Combat Team Deployment - Some soldiers participated in "The Wave" as they lined up for the march into Floyd Casey Stadium. Photo By: Clifford S. Cheney IV / Baylor Photography
Texas National Guard 56th Brigade Combat Team Deployment Photo By: Clifford S. Cheney IV / Baylor Photography
Texas National Guard 56th Brigade Combat Team Deployment - Family members and friends participated in "The Wave" while waiting for the deployment ceremony to begin. Some of the gathered crowds arrived more than four hours before the ceremony's start time of 2 p.m. Photo By: Jason Raddin / Baylor Photography
Texas National Guard 56th Brigade Combat Team Deployment - After gathering in formation, soldiers run down the south endzone ramp leading into Floyd Casey Stadium. Photo By: Clifford S. Cheney IV / Baylor Photography
Texas National Guard 56th Brigade Combat Team Deployment - After gathering in formation, soldiers prepare to run down the south endzone ramp leading into Floyd Casey Stadium. Photo By: Jason Raddin / Baylor Photography
Texas National Guard 56th Brigade Combat Team Deployment - James Munos of El Paso waits for the ceremony to begin. Photo By: Clifford S. Cheney IV / Baylor Photography
Texas National Guard 56th Brigade Combat Team Deployment Photo By: Clifford S. Cheney IV / Baylor Photography
Texas National Guard 56th Brigade Combat Team Deployment Photo By: Clifford S. Cheney IV / Baylor Photography
Texas National Guard 56th Brigade Combat Team Deployment Photo By: Clifford S. Cheney IV / Baylor Photography
Texas National Guard 56th Brigade Combat Team Deployment Photo By: Clifford S. Cheney IV / Baylor Photography
Texas National Guard 56th Brigade Combat Team Deployment Photo By: Clifford S. Cheney IV / Baylor Photography
Texas National Guard 56th Brigade Combat Team Deployment Photo By: Clifford S. Cheney IV / Baylor Photography
Texas National Guard 56th Brigade Combat Team Deployment Photo By: Clifford S. Cheney IV / Baylor Photography
Texas National Guard 56th Brigade Combat Team Deployment Photo By: Jason Raddin / Baylor Photography
Texas National Guard 56th Brigade Combat Team Deployment Photo By: Clifford S. Cheney IV / Baylor Photography
Texas National Guard 56th Brigade Combat Team Deployment Photo By: Jason Raddin / Baylor Photography
Texas National Guard 56th Brigade Combat Team Deployment Photo By: Jason Raddin / Baylor Photography
Texas National Guard 56th Brigade Combat Team Deployment Photo By: Clifford S. Cheney IV / Baylor Photography
Texas National Guard 56th Brigade Combat Team Deployment - "America, the Beautiful" was performed by the Waco Symphony Boys Choir and the Waco Symphony Girls Choir, under the direction of Julie Bolin. Photo By: Clifford S. Cheney IV / Baylor Photography
Texas National Guard 56th Brigade Combat Team Deployment - The conclusion of "The Star Spangled Banner" featured a low flyover by three Apache helicopters. Photo By: Jason Raddin / Baylor Photography
Texas National Guard 56th Brigade Combat Team Deployment - The conclusion of "The Star Spangled Banner" featured a low flyover by three Apache helicopters. Photo By: Clifford S. Cheney IV / Baylor Photography
Texas National Guard 56th Brigade Combat Team Deployment - The west side stands of Floyd Casey Stadium were completely filled for the ceremony. Photo By: Jason Raddin / Baylor Photography
Texas National Guard 56th Brigade Combat Team Deployment Photo By: Clifford S. Cheney IV / Baylor Photography
Texas National Guard 56th Brigade Combat Team Deployment - Baylor President Robert B. Sloan Jr. led the invocation as the ceremony began. Photo By: Clifford S. Cheney IV / Baylor Photography
Texas National Guard 56th Brigade Combat Team Deployment Photo By: Jason Raddin / Baylor Photography
Texas National Guard 56th Brigade Combat Team Deployment - Lt. Gen. Wayne D. Marty, Adjutant General of Texas, addressed the troops and their families. Photo By: Clifford S. Cheney IV / Baylor Photography
Texas National Guard 56th Brigade Combat Team Deployment - Maj. Gen. Michael A. Taylor, 36th Infantry Division Commander, addressed the troops. Photo By: Clifford S. Cheney IV / Baylor Photography
Texas National Guard 56th Brigade Combat Team Deployment - (L to R) Sen. John Cornyn, Cornyn's wife, Sandy, and Rep. Chet Edwards were among the dignitaries who attended the ceremony. Photo By: Clifford S. Cheney IV / Baylor Photography
Texas National Guard 56th Brigade Combat Team Deployment - Baylor President Robert B. Sloan Jr. presented deploying soldiers with the first two 140-minute phone cards from "Operation Phone Card." Photo By: Clifford S. Cheney IV / Baylor Photography
Texas National Guard 56th Brigade Combat Team Deployment Photo By: Clifford S. Cheney IV / Baylor Photography
More than 31,000 family members and friends gathered on New Years Day at Baylor University's Floyd Casey Stadium for an emotional sendoff ceremony marking the largest deployment of Texas National Guard troops since World War II.
Approximately 3,000 members of the 56th Brigade Combat Team, 36th Infantry Division, ran onto the field to patriotic music played by a military band. They were officially mobilized in August for service in Operation Iraqi Freedom. The soldiers will serve in Iraq for about a year.
Gov. Rick Perry, U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, U.S. Rep. Chet Edwards and Baylor President Robert B. Sloan Jr. attended the ceremony, as well as several high-ranking Army National Guard officials.
At the end of the ceremony, Sloan presented two soldiers with 140-minute phone cards that were provided through "Operation Phone Card," a community-wide effort that raised more than $123,000 to purchase phone cards for each of the deploying soldiers.
Photos by Clifford S. Cheney IV and Jason Raddin, Baylor Photography.