Horn of Africa mission
A deployment ceremony on Saturday will honor more than 190 Nebraska Army National Guard soldiers set to deploy to East Africa.
The ceremony, which is closed to the public due to health and social distancing guidelines, will take place at Haymarket Park on Saturday. The soldiers are members of the Nebraska National Guard’s 67th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade.
Soldiers and their families will be joined at the ceremony by Nebraska National Guard and state leadership. Speakers at the ceremony will include Lt. Gov. Mike Foley, Rep. Jeff Fortenberry and Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird.
Photos: Military Events
From military departures to homecomings, here is a selection of moments that honor those who serve our country.
Gregg Clement keeps the flag close as members of Nebraska Army National Guard Co. C, 2-135th General Support Aviation Battalion, family and friends attended a sendoff ceremony Friday, May 29, 2015 at the guard’s air base near the municipal airport. About 20 soldiers assigned to the Lincoln-based UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter company are part of nearly 100 soldiers from two Nebraska Army National Guard helicopter units and several detachments that are deploying to the middle east to conduct aeromedical evacuation support operations. Their mission is expected to last approximately one year.
Sgt. Dallas Benton of the 1167th Brigade Support Company hugs his fiancee Shannon Law as his nine-year-old son Christopher stands by his side on Saturday morning, June 11, 2011. Sgt. Benton of Sioux City was flashing the peace sign in response to a comment from a passing soldier. Approximately 275 members of the Nebraska Army National Guard were welcomed back by thousands of family and friends during a ceremony at Seacrest Field in Lincoln. The soldiers are members of the 67th Battlefield Surveillance Brigade and the 1167th Brigade Support Company who returned after a year-long mission to Iraq.
Retired guard member Jim Gonzalez of McCook is awash in Stars and Stripes as he awaits the return of the members of the 1167th Brigade Support Company and the 67th Battlefield Surveillance Brigade on Saturday morning, June 11, 2011
Sgt. Dallas Benton of Sioux City kisses his two-and-a-half year-old son, Peyton as his son Christopher, 9 looks on in the parking lot at Seacrest Field Saturday morning, June 11, 2011. Nebraska National Guard soldiers were welcomed back to Lincoln, Neb. after a year-long mission to Iraq.
Lincoln resident Tami Nordman and her children James, Jr. and Hope are overwhelmed with emotion as they watch their husband and father Sgt. James Nordman return home with members of his unit, Company C, 2-135th General Support Aviation Battalion, at the National Guard air base in Lincoln, Neb. on Saturday morning, November 19, 2011. Ninety members of the unit arrived home to be greeted by hundreds of family members and friends after a nearly year-long mission to Iraq.
Nebraska Army National Guard Sgt. James Nordman envelopes his children James, Jr. (left) and Hope in a hug after emerging from the Miami Air International Boeing 737 jet with members of his unit, Company C, 2-135th General Support Aviation Battalion, at the National Guard air base in Lincoln, Neb. on Saturday morning, November 19, 2011. Ninety members of the unit arrived home to be greeted by hundreds of family members and friends after a nearly year-long mission to Iraq.
Major Richard Jones (left) of Lincoln holds his ten-year-old son Henry close to him during the closing prayer following a welcome home ceremony for members of the Nebraska National Guard Agricultural Development Team #2 on Tuesday, May 29, 2012 at the Lincoln Air National Guard Base.
Civil Air Patrol cadet Carter Knopik, 14, of Lincoln carefully places a 20-inch evergreen wreath on the tombstone of a veteran in the Soldier’s Circle on Saturday, Dec. 15, 2012, at Wyuka Cemetery. Members of the Civil Air Patrol, the JROTC from Northeast High School, veterans, civilians and their families remembered the 1500 military members who are interred at the local cemetery.
SSgt. Jen Feldt of Lincoln (right) acts a bit silly as she poses with her friend Spc. Holly Styskal, who tearfully described SSgt. Feldt as “my big sister,” following the conclusion of a send off ceremony on Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2013, at the Nebraska National Guard’s Joint Force Headquarters. Feldt was one of ten members of the 12-person Nebraska National Guard Agribusiness Development Team No.4 who were given a send off ceremony before they start a mission that will ultimately take them to Afghanistan.
Eight-year-old Piper Stienike of Omaha settles comfortably into her father, Army CW2 Steve Stienike’s, arms as he’s interviewed on Thursday, Dec. 12, 2013, after arriving at the Penterman Armory. Approximately 10 Nebraska Army and Air National Guardsmen who have spent nearly the past year in Afghanistan as part of the Guard’s Afghan Agribusiness Development Team No. 4 were welcomed back from their deployment today during a ceremony at the Nebraska National Guard air base in Lincoln, Neb.
Unit commander, Major Tom Golden of Lincoln hugs granddaughters Andrea (left) and Audrey who came up from Kansas City to see his return on Thursday, Dec. 12, 2013, at the Penterman Armory. Approximately 10 Nebraska Army and Air National Guardsmen who have spent nearly the past year in Afghanistan as part of the Guard’s Afghan Agribusiness Development Team No. 4 were welcomed back from their deployment today during a ceremony at the Nebraska National Guard air base in Lincoln, Neb.
Over 600 20-inch evergreen wreaths were placed on the tombstones of veterans in the Soldier’s Circle on Saturday, Dec. 12, 2015, at Wyuka Cemetery. Lincoln Puiblic Schools AFJROTC and UNL ROTC cadets honored veterans who have lost their lives, either through military service or after they left the military through the “Wreaths Across America” program.
Staff Sgt. Matthew Hawke (left) of Lincoln enjoys a moment with 15-month old daughter, Brooklyn during a sending off ceremony for him and 34 additional members of the Nebraska army National Guard’s Company G, 2-104th General Support Aviation Battalion, based out of Lincoln, on Friday, June 3, 2016. While deployed the soldiers will be responsible for conducting aeromedical evacuation support operations. Their mission is expected to last approximately one year.
As part of the “fini flight” tradition which stretches back to World War II, Col. James “Bob” Stevenson, Jr. of Lincoln gets doused in ice cubes and water by his crew as he descends the ladder following his final KC-135R Stratotanker flight on Thursday, August 3, 2017, at the Nebraska National Guard Air Base. The “fini flight” custom honors aircrew members in their final flight before they transfer to a new unit or retire from the military.
Seven-year-old Loryn Piening (right) rushes to the arms of her father, Maj. Hank Piening after he returned home from overseas duty with fifty other Air National Guard Airmen from the Lincoln-based 155th Air Refueling Wing on a pair of KC-135 Stratotankers on Saturday, August 26, 2017, at the Nebraska Air National Guard Base.
A Western Union telegram addressed to Eileen McBride, the wife of Army Sgt. Eugene G. McBride informing her that he was killed in action on January 30, 1945 in Germany. The Purple Heart was awarded posthumously. The picture in the lower right is Eugene McBride and his wife Eileen.r
The Blue Angels fly in formation, framed by the refueling window of a Nebraska Air National Guard KC-135 stratotanker, on Wednesday, May 4, 2016. The Blue Angels will perform at the Guardians of Freedom Airshow May 7 and 8.