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Soldiers honored before deployment

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Posted 6:13 PM 8/19/2012 : Soldiers honored before deployment

MARANA, Ariz.-Dozens of members of Marana-based Bravo Company, 1st Attack Reconnaissance Battalion, 285th Aviation Regiment of the Arizona Army National Guard are getting ready to head to Afghanistan.

Their family and friends were at a send off ceremony Sunday.

It was an emotional day for some, but for others, they say they couldn't be happier or prouder of their loved one that is off to Afghanistan soon.

One little beauty was jumping for joy as her grandfather was honored at the send off ceremony.

"It's going to be tough, but I'm actually happy to do it when she's so young," he said.

Thirty-seven members of the air attack unit will head to Fort Hood Friday, then they are off to Afghanistan to provide aerial coverage for ground troops already stationed there.

Newlyweds Staff Sgt. Jamie Carbary and Sgt. John Carbary will be separated for a year as John fulfills his duty in Afghanistan.

"It's definitely a lot harder than I was expecting it to be, but it's a lot easier knowing that she's done this so she knows both sides of it," said Carbary.

For the fourth time, Sgt. First Class Martin Chavez will be leaving behind his wife and five children to serve his country.

"Hopefully this is my last time, but being in the military now-a- days, you never know. Without the support of my family this wouldn't have happened," said Chavez.

After the send off ceremony, family had a rare opportunity to get up close and personal with these Apache helicopters.

There were lots of happy faces as family honored their loved ones, but in just a few days, they'll have to say goodbye.

"It's hard, but I have my family, my mom and her now, so she'll keep me busy," said Paige Fitzgerald, her father is getting deployed.

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