ALOHA STADIUM DEPLOYMENT CEREMONY SET FOR 1,700 SOLDIERS
Media Advisory- August 12, 2008
WHEN: Saturday, August 16, 2008, 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Parking Gates open at 6:00 a.m., Stadium Seating Gates open at 8:00 a.m.
There is no charge for parking, parking is Free
WHERE: Aloha Stadium, Honolulu, Hawaii
WHO: Governor Linda Lingle,
U.S. Senators Daniel K. Inouye and Daniel K. Akaka,
U.S. Congresswoman Mazie K. Hirono,
Lt. Governor James R. “Duke” Aiona Jr.,
Adjutant General for the State of Hawaii, Maj. Gen. Robert G.F. Lee and
World Record Organizer, Ashley Kakazu.
WHAT: Deployment Ceremony for the 29th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (IBCT) and an attempt to set the Guinness World Record for the largest group hug
HONOLULU – Adjutant General for the State of Hawaii, Maj. Gen. Robert G.F. Lee invites the public to the Deployment Ceremony for the 29th Infantry Brigade Combat.
The Hawaii Army National Guard’s 29th IBCT will be heading to Kuwait in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF). About 1,700 Soldiers will be mobilized for this deployment. The 29th IBCT is made up of a Headquarters Company, and Cavalry, Field Artillery, Brigade Support, and Special Troops Battalions and the 100th/442nd Infantry of the U.S. Army Reserve. There are three distinct missions for this deployment; some units will provide Force Protection, or security, at several installations in Kuwait, while other units will be the Camp Command Cell, performing “mayoral” duties, for installations around Kuwait, and finally, some units will be the security force for units convoying north to Iraq. The 29th IBCT was mobilized in August of 2004 and deployed to Iraq in 2005. Hawaii Guard units deployed to both OIF and Operation Enduring Freedom are very generous to the people of those countries. Families and friends of 29th Brigade soldiers are encouraged to bring a can good to help our own local community, the Food Bank.
Families and friends are invited to attend the Deployment Ceremony to recognize Hawaii’s deploying warriors.
“We are going to send off our 29th IBCT and the 100th, 442nd Infantry again in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom,” said Maj. Gen. Robert G.F. Lee. “The deployment ceremony is an opportunity for loved ones to say aloha to our Soldiers as one unit in Aloha Stadium."
The event is set for Saturday, August 16th, 11:00 am at Aloha Stadium. Parking gates will open at 6:00 a.m. and parking for the event will be free. The Stadium seating gates will open at 8:00 a.m. Many companies and organizations such as The Elks Club, Tri-West, BAE Systems, USO, Girl Scouts of America and others will generously donate bentos and drinks for the deploying Soldiers and their families.
Upon the conclusion of official portion of the Deployment Ceremony, a special “offering of aloha” will be presented to the troops as those in attendance attempt to set a Guinness World Record for the largest group hug.
The idea to set the group hug record was suggested by Ashley Kakazu, a 10-year-old Punahou elementary school student. The Soldiers on the field and their families in the stands will join over 6,000 people for the record breaking attempt. The current world record is 6,623 for 35 seconds and it was set in Mexico. Participants will need to continuously linked for the record to be valid. Photos and video of the hug will be taken and sent to Guinness World Record officials for verification before the record is official.
Any interested media, who would like to attend this event, please RSVP by 4:00 p.m. Thursday, August 14th. Please call the Public Affairs Office at 733-4258 to RSVP.
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For more information, contact:
Lt. Col. Charles Anthony
Public Affairs Officer
Phone: (808) 733-4258
