Departure ceremony held for local National Guard unit at River Campus

Warrant Officer Roderick Gilliam holds his daughter Rose after a departure ceremony Monday, May 20,  at Southeast Missouri State University's River Campus in Cape Girardeau. The departure ceremony was for the local National Guard unit (1140th EN BN) as 150 soldiers are being deployed to the Middle East for Operation Spartan Shield to oversee engineering operations. (Nathan Gladden ~ ngladden@semissourian.com)

Ward 4 councilman David Cantrell speaks to the of National Guard as he reminisces about his time in the military as well encourages them before they're deployed. (Nathan Gladden ~ ngladden@semissourian.com)

District 147 Representative John Voss speaks to the crowd in attendance at National Guard's deployment ceremony. (Nathan Gladden ~ ngladden@semissourian.com)

General Matthew Bacon addresses the 1140th EN BN National Guard unit as apart of the ceremony in the Bedell Performance Hall. (Nathan Gladden ~ ngladden@semissourian.com)

Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft addresses the National Guard and delivers words of encouragement before they are deployed. (Nathan Gladden ~ ngladden@semissourian.com)

(Nathan Gladden ~ ngladden@semissourian.com)

Chaplain Dunnam sings along with the National Guard unit on Monday, May 20 at the River Campus. (Nathan Gladden ~ ngladden@semissourian.com)

(Left) General Matthew Bacon, Colonel Mike Seek and Sgt. major Richard Parks sing with the National Guard unit before they are deployed on Monday, May 20 at the River Campus. (Nathan Gladden ~ ngladden@semissourian.com)

(Nathan Gladden ~ ngladden@semissourian.com)

The crowd claps as the National Guard unit exits the Bedell Performance Hall as the ceremony comes to a close on Monday, May 20. (Nathan Gladden ~ ngladden@semissourian.com)

(Nathan Gladden ~ ngladden@semissourian.com)

(Nathan Gladden ~ ngladden@semissourian.com)

(Nathan Gladden ~ ngladden@semissourian.com)

(Left) Mother and Father Danielle and Corey Quick pose with sons Baylor and Brayden for a picture after Corey's departure ceremony on Monday, May 20 at Southeast Missouri State University's River Campus. (Nathan Gladden ~ ngladden@semissourian.com)