WATERLOO – Friends and family gathered to send-off 65 Iowa Army National Guard soldiers from Waterloo on Tuesday.

The soldiers are preparing to head over to Iraq to continue the war on terrorism. They are part of the 211th general support aviation battalion.

The soldiers' mission will be to transport and attend to the medical needs of wounded and injured soldiers. About five-hundred people gathered to say goodbye.

As soldiers stood tall and strong, their family members wept and tried to comfort each other.

"We've known this day has been coming for a long time. Today's the day. T minus zero,” National Guard Soldier Scott Blakesley said.

Scott Blakesley's wife and children still can't imagine life without him.

"I don't think we thought this was ever going to happen. So, for us, it's been a little bit of a shock,” Amy Blakesley, Scott’s wife, said.

Scott Blakesley has been in the National Guard for sixteen years. This is the first time he's been deployed.

"I never imagined that, in my mid-forties, I'd be going off to war,” he said.

Words and hugs can't express all the emotions the soldiers and family members felt. No one's really sure how life will be different when the troops return next year.

"I rely on him a lot. We are each other's best friends. To not have him around will be very difficult,” Amy Blakesley said.

As fears of the uncertainty that lies ahead drifted through the crowd, soldiers tried to reassure their loved ones.

"I think we're going to be okay. We're going to be in a secure area, so I'm not too worried about it,” Scott Blakesley said.

The soldiers are on their way to Oklahoma now for more training before they head over to Iraq for about the next year or so.

Governor Chet Culver attended the ceremony and gave a brief speech of encouragement to the soldiers and the crowd.