By Ivan Pereira
It was an emotional day for hundreds of U.S. National Guard soldiers Monday morning as they said one last goodbye to their loved ones before their penultimate trip overseas.
The 442nd Military Police Co. of the New York National Guard held a special ceremony at the New York State Armory on 168th Street in Jamaica for the 145 men and women waiting to be deployed to Fort Dix in New Jersey for final training before they ship off to Iraq.
The commanding officer, Capt. Tara Dawe, said the ceremony is always important for the troops to share this moment with their relatives because it will be the last time they will see them for at least a year.
“I think it helps them to know that their families are OK and they can see them in their uniforms,” she said.
The National Guard members, who came from all over the state, spent the last year going through basic training in various fields, according to the commanding officer. The troops had to learn weapons and combat training, vehicle qualification and education on some of the U.S. Army’s newest tools.
Pfc. Robert Pinguil, of East Elmhurst, said the training was long but not grueling since he had good comrades by his side. Pinguil, who was sent off by his wife, Joannie, said that a sense of honor and camaraderie is one of the reasons he enlisted.
“I joined to serve my country and see how adventurous it is,” he said.
Fellow Guardsman Spec. Edward Sandoval, 29, of Corona, agreed. Sandoval, who is going on his second tour, said he was always fascinated by serving in the military and would not want it any other way.
“It’s a duty for me to go and do what needs to be done. It’s hard, but someone has to do it,” he said.
Many of those who saw their family members or friends ship off said the event was bittersweet. Kara Clark gave her fiancée, Staff Sgt. Steven Seidenstein of Merrick, L.I., a kiss goodbye before he deployed.
Seidenstein had already been deployed to Iraq in 2003 when he was with the Army and later joined the Guard because he wanted to make a career in the armed services.
“I’m sad but … he’s going into it for life,” Clark said. “I just look forward to him coming home.”
Noemi Taveras, 26, of Ozone Park, came out to say goodbye to her brother, Pfc. Rafael Marte, along with his wife, kids and grandmother. She said the event helped her family meet with other military relatives and share their support.
“It means a lot to them, the fact that there are so many people saying goodbye,” she said.
Reach reporter Ivan Pereira by e-mail at ipereira@cnglocal.com or by phone at 718-260-4546.
