Soldiers from the 36th Combat Aviation Brigade, representing 44 different states, stand in front of a crowd of more than 1,000 family members and friends during an official send-off ceremony at the Leo Buckley Stadium in Killeen, Texas, July 30, 2006. U.S. Army photo by Master Sgt. Lek Mateo

Members of the color guard pass a formation of soldiers from the 36th Combat Aviation Brigade during an official send-off ceremony at the Leo Buckley Stadium in Killeen, Texas, July 30, 2006.U.S. Army photo by Master Sgt. Lek Mateo

Members of the color guard stand at attention during an official send-off ceremony for the 36th Combat Aviation Brigade at the Leo Buckley Stadium in Killeen, Texas, July 30, 2006. U.S. Army photo by Master Sgt. Lek Mateo

A formation of UH-60 Black Hawk and CH-47 Chinook helicopters passes overhead during an official send-off ceremony for the soldiers of the 36th Combat Aviation Brigade at the Leo Buckley Stadium in Killeen, Texas, July 30, 2006. U.S. Army photo by Master Sgt. Lek Mateo

U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Russel L. Honore, commander of the 1st U.S. Army, speaks to the soldiers of the 36th Combat Aviation Brigade and their family members and friends during an official send-off ceremony at the Leo Buckley Stadium in Killeen, Texas, July 30, 2006. U.S. Army photo by Master Sgt. Lek Mateo

U.S. Army Col. Vernon A. Sevier Jr., left, commander of the 36th Combat Aviation Brigade, and Command Sgt. Maj. Bradley Brandt, right, fold the brigade’s flag to prepare it for deployment to Iraq during an official send-off ceremony at the Leo Buckley Stadium in Killeen, Texas, July 30, 2006. U.S. Army photo by Master Sgt. Lek Mateo

A soldier from the 36th Combat Aviation Brigade greets a family member, who is a World War II veteran, after the completion of the official send-off ceremony at the Leo Buckley Stadium in Killeen, Texas, July 30, 2006. U.S. Army photo by Master Sgt. Lek Mateo

A soldier from the 36th Combat Aviation Brigade holds her daughter after the completion of the official send-off ceremony at the Leo Buckley Stadium in Killeen, Texas, July 30, 2006. U.S. Army photo by Master Sgt. Lek Mateo