Send-off in Monticello for Troops May 23, 2012

Ashley was quoted in the Moticello paper:

A departure ceremony is scheduled this evening (Wednesday) for more than 120 soldiers of the 257th Military Police Company in Monticello, Minn.

“The 257th Military Police Company will partner with the Afghan National Army to support operations in Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom,” said Army Capt. Troy M. Hyland, 257th Military Police Company Commander.

“This company of soldiers has always displayed strong values in the dedication towards professionalism,” said Hyland. “Building on this foundation, we have a highly motivated, adaptable group of soldiers that consistently exhibit a family-type respect and trust for each other.”

“It became apparent that our communication will ensure the success of our deployment,” said Army Cpl. Ashley L. Pederson, team leader. “We recently trained together at Camp Ripley and worked on refining our skills.

Members of the media and the general public are invited to attend the departure ceremony Wednesday, May 23 at 7 p.m. at the Monticello High School Auditorium, 5225 School Boulevard Monticello.

Check out the link below for the WCCO news story of the Deployment Ceremony of the 257 Military Police. Just after the soilder with the daughter in his arms you can catch

Ashley in the row of soliders if you look close!

http://minnesota.cbslocal.com/2012/05/23/more-than-100-minn-soldiers-leave-for-
afghanistan/#.T73DOY2uyTQ.facebook

MONTICELLO, Minn. (WCCO) – For 124 Minnesota soldiers, the war in Afghanistan isn’t over — it’s just beginning.
Three weeks after President Barack Obama said all troops would be out by 2014, friends and family said goodbye to members of the 257th Military Police Company as they left Wednesday, just days before Memorial Day.

“I don’t have any insight on [the war] ending, because mine’s just starting,” said Spc. Zach Haugen.

Soldiers and their spouses find Obama’s anticipated ending date hard to believe.

“I’ll believe it when I see it,” said Andrea Stai, a soldier’s wife. “I think they’ll have to stay there until it’s safe and then hopefully they can move out and go to the next stage for everyone.”

The 257th will be responsible for teaching and coaching members of the Afghan National Army.
It was the first departure ceremony and deployment for a majority of the soldiers, including Haugen.
Haugen has 1-month-old son and a 2-year-old daughter. He says that missing his kids early years will be the most challenging thing for him and his wife.

“She’s holding up strong for now,” Haugen said. “Next week, it’ll be a whole different story.”

The soldiers will leave for training in Fort Bliss, Texas, on Monday before going to Afghanistan in the summer. They’re expected to return in the spring of 2013.