072719 Military Deployment (MA)

hnews_0727_Military_Deployment

Soldiers in the 1st Battalion, 178th Infantry Regiment, company D, prepare to be deployed to Afghanistan as part of Operation Freedom's Sentinel during a ceremony held at Woodstock High School on Saturday, July 27, 2019 in Woodstock. The mobilization of 400 area soldiers is the largest in Illinois since 2010.

hnews_0727_Military_Deployment

Keith Murphy, right, talks with soldiers in the 1st Battalion, 178th Infantry Regiment, company D, as they prepare for a ceremony for their deployment to Afghanistan as part of Operation Freedom's Sentinel during a ceremony held at Woodstock High School on Saturday, July 27, 2019 in Woodstock. The mobilization of 400 area soldiers is the largest in Illinois since 2010.

hnews_0727_Military_Deployment

Soldiers in the 1st Battalion, 178th Infantry Regiment, company D, prepare to be deployed to Afghanistan as part of Operation Freedom's Sentinel during a ceremony held at Woodstock High School on Saturday, July 27, 2019 in Woodstock. The mobilization of 400 area soldiers is the largest in Illinois since 2010.

hnews_0727_Military_Deployment

Kevin Kuhns, center, stands with his fellow soldiers in the 1st Battalion, 178th Infantry Regiment, company D, as they take part in a deployment ceremony for solders heading to Afghanistan as part of Operation Freedom's Sentinel during a ceremony held at Woodstock High School on Saturday, July 27, 2019 in Woodstock. The mobilization of 400 area soldiers is the largest in Illinois since 2010.

hnews_0727_Military_Deployment

Friends and family members pack the main gymnasium at Woodstock High School for a deployment ceremony for soldiers in the 1st Battalion, 178th Infantry Regiment, company D, preparing to deploy to Afghanistan as part of Operation Freedom's Sentinel during a ceremony held at Woodstock High School on Saturday, July 27, 2019 in Woodstock. The mobilization of 400 area soldiers is the largest in Illinois since 2010.

hnews_0727_Military_Deployment

Dylan Toelke of Dakota, second from left, and Roberto Rodriguez of Waukegan, third from left, share in a laugh as they prepare for a deployment ceremony for soldiers in the 1st Battalion, 178th Infantry Regiment, company D, who will be deployed to Afghanistan as part of Operation Freedom's Sentinel during a ceremony held at Woodstock High School on Saturday, July 27, 2019 in Woodstock. The mobilization of 400 area soldiers is the largest in Illinois since 2010.

hnews_0727_Military_Deployment

Soldiers in the 1st Battalion, 178th Infantry Regiment, company D, prepare to be deployed to Afghanistan as part of Operation Freedom's Sentinel during a ceremony held at Woodstock High School on Saturday, July 27, 2019 in Woodstock. The mobilization of 400 area soldiers is the largest in Illinois since 2010.

hnews_0727_Military_Deployment

Rafael Santoyo of Chicago, center, and other soldiers in the 1st Battalion, 178th Infantry Regiment, company D, head into the main gymnasium for a deployment ceremony for soldiers heading to Afghanistan as part of Operation Freedom's Sentinel during a ceremony held at Woodstock High School on Saturday, July 27, 2019 in Woodstock. The mobilization of 400 area soldiers is the largest in Illinois since 2010.

hnews_0727_Military_Deployment

Fernando Pena Torres of Rockford holds a flag for the 1st Battalion, 178th Infantry Regiment, company D, as they prepare for a deployment ceremony for soldiers heading to Afghanistan as part of Operation Freedom's Sentinel during a ceremony held at Woodstock High School on Saturday, July 27, 2019 in Woodstock. The mobilization of 400 area soldiers is the largest in Illinois since 2010.

hnews_0727_Military_Deployment

Soldiers in the 1st Battalion, 178th Infantry Regiment, company D, prepare to be deployed to Afghanistan as part of Operation Freedom's Sentinel during a ceremony held at Woodstock High School on Saturday, July 27, 2019 in Woodstock. The mobilization of 400 area soldiers is the largest in Illinois since 2010.

hnews_0727_Military_Deployment

Soldiers in the 1st Battalion, 178th Infantry Regiment, company D, prepare to be deployed to Afghanistan as part of Operation Freedom's Sentinel during a ceremony held at Woodstock High School on Saturday, July 27, 2019 in Woodstock. The mobilization of 400 area soldiers is the largest in Illinois since 2010.

hnews_0727_Military_Deployment

Spc. Chanc McEstes (CQ'ed) of Woodstock talks with his fiance Daphne Westfallen of McHenry after a successful proposal following a deployment ceremony for soldiers in the 1st Battalion, 178th Infantry Regiment, company D, who will be deployed to Afghanistan as part of Operation Freedom's Sentinel during a ceremony held at Woodstock High School on Saturday, July 27, 2019 in Woodstock. The mobilization of 400 area soldiers is the largest in Illinois since 2010.

hnews_0727_Military_Deployment

Spc. Chanc McEstes (CQ'ed) of Woodstock, right, hugs his future father-in-law, Steve Westfallen of Chicago, after proposing to his fiance, Daphne Westfallen of McHenry, Soldiers in the 1st Battalion, 178th Infantry Regiment, company D, during a deployment ceremony for soldiers heading to Afghanistan as part of Operation Freedom's Sentinel during a ceremony held at Woodstock High School on Saturday, July 27, 2019 in Woodstock. The mobilization of 400 area soldiers is the largest in Illinois since 2010.