Oklahoma To Say Goodbye To Soldiers Heading To Afghanistan

NewsOn6.com

OKLAHOMA CITY -- More than 3,200 Oklahoma National Guard members will be saying goodbye to their loved ones Wednesday as they set out for Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

The farewell ceremony takes place at two locations in Oklahoma City February 16, 2011 as thousands are expected to attend the largest Oklahoma deployment since the Korean War.

The Oklahoma City Arena and Cox Convention Center in downtown Oklahoma City will open on at 9:30 a.m. and the ceremony is scheduled to begin at 11:30 a.m.

Members of the 160th Field Artillery, 179th Infantry, 279th Infantry, 180th Cavalry, 700th Brigade Support Battalion, and the 146th ASOS will be in the Oklahoma City Arena.

Members of the 45th Brigade Special Troops Battalion and the Oklahoma STT will be in the Cox Convention Center.

The Oklahoma troops are scheduled to conduct full spectrum operations – offensive, defensive and stability/civil support operations while in Afghanistan.