WATCH: Emotional Send-Off Ceremony for Maine National Guard Deploying to Poland

This past Thursday in Orono, the Maine National Guard put together a remarkable ceremony to celebrate the send-off for those who were traveling to the country of Poland for their year long deployment, according to WMTW. They report that there was around 80 members of the Maine National Guard that were leaving. They represented the 120th Regional Support Group. This deployment is part of the U.S. Army Europe's Atlantic Resolve.

According to News Center Maine,

 The soldiers will conduct base support operations for a number of units transitioning through the European theater.

Essentially, they are supporting NATO which stands for and their goal is to,

 safeguard the Allies' freedom and security by political and

military means

NATO US Mission

 

The article states that they have been operating in Europe and helping allied countries like Bulgaria, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and Romania.

This mission was not created due to the tensions with Russia and Ukraine because it was called before that happened as the article states.

"We consider ourselves guests in their country and, as any guests, we will do as they ask and as they need, to support them within our mission boundaries,"

Sargent Major Alexander Clifford of the Maine National Guard said

As the guard members got ready to leave they stand as the national anthem plays and you can tell they are proud. Everyone in the room feels honored to serve and with that comes a high level of esteem and respect to be able to help support our allied nations.

Our primary focus is taking care of soldiers, Where it will be a little different is, we are partnering with NATO and the Polish government and the Polish forces, so we're a guest in their country instead of trying to outroot an evil occupational force.

Clifford of the Maine National Guard 

Here is a video of the national guard send-off to Poland posted by, News Center Maine YouTube,

Good luck to all of our service members that are continuing to keep us and everyone else safe.