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26 Army National Guard Soldiers From Queens Ready For Deployment To Afghanistan

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) -- Twenty-six men and women from the Army National Guard left for training ahead of a deployment to Afghanistan on Saturday.

LISTEN: WCBS 880's Sophia Hall reports

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There were tears, hugs and lots of goodbyes in Queens at an American Legion during a farewell ceremony for 26 members of the 14th Finance Detachment.

For Ada Paulomolina, this is her second deployment. She is engaged and hopes to get married shortly after she returns one year from now.

"I believe that God puts us in situations for a reason to test how strong or weak we are," she said.

The 26 soldiers will first go to Fort Dix for additional training before deploying to Afghanistan.

Meanwhile, members of the New York Army National Guard will be the halftime attraction during the Buffalo Bills' game against the New York Jets Sunday.

One hundred soldiers from the 53rd Troop Command and 42nd Infantry Division will reaffirm their oaths to New York and to the United States during a ceremony led by Brig. Gen. Michael Swezey. Swezey is commander of the 53rd Troop
Command.

The soldiers also will take part in a flag unfurling ceremony at the start of the game.

The New York Army National Guard has 10,500 soldiers.

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