Many people in downtown Indiana braved the cold to give the soldiers in the 420th Clearance Company Army Reserves a hero’s sendoff as they left Indiana for their overseas deployment as part of Operation Sentinel.
Two coach buses full of soldiers went up 4th Street and down Philadelphia Street and emergency vehicles escorted the soldiers as they made their way through Downtown Indiana.
Many in the crowd were holding American flags from small hand-held ones to full size flags. Mark Gawel, a veteran himself, was holding one of the full size flags, and said it was important to pay tribute to the troops.
Veronica Rose of Indiana said that it was emotional to see the troops head out.
The troops are headed to Texas before they are deployed to Afghanistan.
