Among the nearly 100 National Guard members deployed last week from the Alexandria National Guard were two soldiers from Stevens County. Luke Butterfass of Morris and Nick Thibodeaux of Hancock left for Texas on Monday with fellow soldiers from the Charlie Battery, 1st Battalion 194th Field Artillery unit.
The unit was bestowed with a send-off in Alexandria where the downtown was lined with community members showing their support and waving their goodbyes as the unit was escorted out of town. Thibodeaux told his mother that the most moving part of the send-off was Veterans in wheelchairs making the effort to stand and salute the departing soldiers.
Read the full story in the SCT e-edition.
Nick Thibodeaux with parents Preston and Sabrina Teague. Submitted photo 
Luke Butterfass