Staff Sgt. Michael Wright's family (Michael & Mary Collins Wright of Essex Junction) joined him moments before his departure Sunday. Wright is going on his third tour. He said while his actual family can't be with him on assignment, the hundreds of his peers will be there for him.
"It's family more or less," Wright said. "Everybody relies on one another."
More soldiers will leave Oct. 30 and 31. Most of them will return to Vermont for Thanksgiving. They will deploy for Afghanistan in late December.
I did not see anyone else I knew, but am sure there must have been some local Guardsmen that left today also.
Staff Sgt. Michael Wright is standing near his father in the back - Photo was taken by JoAnne at Imogene's 100th Birthday
