A Sad Farewell To Guard Members Heading To War

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- About 100 men and women from the Pennsylvania Army National Guard 131st transportation company attended a send-off ceremony with their families, Tuesday afternoon, in Northeast Philadelphia.

Specialist Eugene Bozzi of North Philadelphia was holding his six-week old daughter Madison in his arms.

"Whatever it takes, I'm here to do it," he said. "My wife supports me, my family supports me; as long as I have them to back me up, I'll be okay. That's how we are coping. We're going to ride it out together."

The soldiers will get to say goodbye a second time when they're done training at Fort Dix before being deployed to Afghanistan for a year.

Many families say they'll stay in touch through the internet as much they can during the time they're away from each other.

Reported by John McDevitt, KYW Newsradio 1060.