Dickson Soldiers Deploy to Iraq - John Dunn

FOX 17 News – By: John Dunn

Middle Tennessee soldiers are packing their bags and cleaning their weapons.

They are about to deploy to Iraq on a very special day, and it means big changes for the annual celebration in one local community.

America’s newest heroes will leave Dickson on the very day set aside to honor our nation’s veterans.

It’s driving home the importance of the holiday.

Dickson’s Main Street will lack the normal festivities on Veterans Day.

"We're preparing for a deployment to Iraq," says 1st Lt. Brian Celatka.

The annual parade has been cancelled, because the 180 grand marshals are leaving for war.

"It is ironic that it fell this way, but to us it's just another day that we get to go out and serve our country," says 1st Lt. Celatka.

The 267th Military Police Company is counting down the days.

"Our mission is to train the police over there, and I hope we get to do a good job at that, and actually let them get on their own feet where we can actually leave," says Sgt. Oland McNees.

The soldiers have known for months they were being deployed, but fittingly they’re leaving Tuesday morning...Veterans Day.

"Walking in the footsteps of people who have gone before us to defend freedom and democracy around the world, that's a pretty cool thing," Sgt. J.L. Barber.

"To realize it's not about people who used to be, but who are still active taking care of the country," says Spc. Mayce Dodson.

There will not be a parade here on Tuesday, but the soldiers will still get quite a send off.

"We plan to have the community come out, stand on the side or the road, and wave the flags as they go by," says Kathy Jackson with Dickson’s Veterans Day Committee.

Dickson’s Veterans Day committee has turned a small inconvenience, into an opportunity to show the community cares.

"You're just so thankful for the freedom that they give to us," says Jackson.

The soldiers say they’re ready to serve.

"It's good to go and feel like you're doing something that really makes a difference," says Spc. Dodson.

And they’re grateful for their community’s support.

"They do stand behind us, and I can never thank them enough for that," says Sgt. Barber.

The soldiers will spend the next year working with Iraqi policemen in Baghdad.

This is the second deployment for the 267th. They were one of the first units from Tennessee to go to Iraq back in 2003.
Dickson Soldiers Deploy to Iraq - John Dunn