MACHESNEY PARK — On Thursday, Harlem High School’s gymnasium was filled with soldiers, their families, and friends for a ceremony honoring the service and sacrifice of approximately 160 Illinois Army National Guard soldiers from the Machesney Park-based 725th Transportation Company. These soldiers are set to deploy overseas for about a year, conducting fuel operations in Europe as part of Operation Atlantic Resolve, aimed at strengthening NATO allies in response to Russian military actions.
Governor JB Pritzker addressed the gathering, emphasizing the extraordinary commitment of the soldiers. “You are not just serving your country but our alliances in the global community, he said. “Your mission makes us all safer, freer, and stronger.
Military leaders, along with state Rep. Andrew Chesney and state Sen. John Cabello, joined in recognizing the soldiers. Cabello remarked, Your service reminds us that freedom requires vigilance, and ordinary people can rise to extraordinary challenges.
Captain Charles Smith III, the unit’s commander, expressed confidence in his soldiers’ readiness for the mission, noting that they received their deployment orders just five months prior. This mission is a duty, but it’s also a privilege. We will execute our mission with excellence and return with pride, he stated.
Smith also acknowledged the sacrifices made by families during deployments, highlighting his own situation of potentially missing the birth of his second child. Pritzker recognized the families’ critical role, stating, Families bear a great burden for our soldiers and for our state, and the entire state of Illinois stands with you.
Sgt. Adrian Martinez, who missed the birth of his daughter during a previous deployment, shared the emotional toll deployments take on families. His wife, Sarah, reflected on the challenges, saying, There are big milestones that he’s going to miss… It hurts them, and they’re like, but why? Why does daddy have to leave.
For Staff Sergeant Uriel Carmona, this deployment marks his first, and he expressed mixed emotions about leaving his 9-month-old son. His wife, Elisabeth Miwa, noted the difficulty of their situation, particularly with upcoming holidays and birthdays.
As the ceremony concluded, soldiers were met with cheers and fist bumps from students at Harlem High School. Major General Rodney C. Boyd encouraged the soldiers to maintain open communication with their families, emphasizing the importance of flexibility and teamwork during their mission. Go show the world that you’re trained, disciplined, and proud to show that you’re from the state of Illinois, Boyd concluded.
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