Fort Stewart Casing Divisions Colors Before Deployment

FORT STEWART, Ga.— More than 150 people came for a symbolic ceremony at Fort Stewart, marking the departure of the Third Infantry Division.

On Friday, members of the Third Infantry Division and Hinesville community gathered for the casing of the division’s colors, as the unit prepares to deploy to Iraq and Afghanistan.

The ceremony is a military tradition in which a unit flag is flown for the last time before deployment.

“They know what kind of support to provide us when we’re home and what kind of support to provide us when we’re away.  So the same way the Army has adapted since 2003 for this new kind of fight this Coastal Georgia community has adapted too.“ said Maj. Gen. Tony Cucolo, commander of the Third Infantry Division, about the community of Libery County and Hinesville.

“I can’t help to keep the tears out of my eyes when I think about these fine young soldiers now are going to be serving our country overseas.  Thinking also about all those including some of my soldiers who served years and years ago.  That’s why I like to be here,“ said retired Col. Charles Murray, a World War II veteran and former Third ID member.

The Third Infantry Division has already started deploying soldiers to both Iraq and Afghanistan. By the end of the year, they will have deployed about 14,000 soldiers.