Staff Writer

Spc. Eric Madore was one of the first to arrive at the Army Reserve training center in Saco.

With the sun shining brightly over the parking lot on May 5, he laughed with his family and chased his fiancee’s 18-month-old daughter, Savannah, in circles. An hour later, he shook the hand of Maj. Gen. John Libby and boarded a bus bound for Londonderry, N.H.

Madore, a 2008 Thornton Academy graduate, is a member of the 94^th Military Police Company. The 45 members of the Saco-based detachment left together last week to join other soldiers in New Hampshire before heading to training at Fort Dix, N.J. They will deploy to Iraq sometime this summer.

In Iraq, the 94^th Military Police Company will train Iraqi police and help with security missions. The unit also deployed to Iraq in early 2003.

Madore, a 20-year-old student and part-time lifeguard, said he was nervous about his first deployment.

“It was a lot of packing, a lot of goodbyes,” he said. “I don’t know exactly how you get emotionally ready for it.”

Madore’s fiancee, Katie Wildes, said she had many emotions as she prepared to say goodbye for a year.

“I don’t think you can ever be fully prepared for something like that. It’s going to be hard, but I know we’ll make it through,” she said. “There will be good days and bad days. We’ll take it one day at a time.”

Madore’s father, Greg, organized the  ceremony, which drew area residents, state senators and representatives, Gen. Libby and Gov. John Baldacci. The elder Madore served in Iraq from 2004 to 2005 with the National Guard 133^rd Engineers. Sending his own son oversees is “surreal,” he said.

“I like to say it was easier to take someone else’s kids with me (to Iraq) than to send my own,” he said. “I’m as ready as any parent can be to see their child go. I think it will be a hard year without him home.”

Adam Madore, Eric’s 16-year-old brother, agrees. He said he is proud of his brother for stepping up to help with a good cause, but will miss the time they usually spend hanging out. And, he said with a smile, he’ll miss having someone to annoy.

Spc. David Aston, 19, of Bangor, leaned against a car and held tight to his girlfriend’s hands. This is his first deployment and he said he spent a lot of time trying to mentally prepare himself to leave home.

“I’m trying to get up to the task. It’s monumental, it’s a very big sacrifice,” he said. “I wanted to give back to my country, I wanted to get out and get some adventure. I’m happy I was one of the people who was chosen to do this, but I’m sad to put my life on hold. It’s hard.”

Amanda Hamm, Aston’s girlfriend of three and a half years, said the idea he will be gone for a year hadn’t hit her yet.

“I’m ready for it to happen, but I know when I get home it will be a lot different,” she said.

Sgt. 1^st Class Jason Dudley of Randolph stood in the shadow of the reserve center, his young daughters close by. He deployed with the unit in 2003 and said he spent recent weeks “trying to get everything wrapped up so it’s easier” for his wife, Hilary, and daughters, Summer, 9, Sage, 7, and Clara, 4.

Summer said she is proud of her father and plans to talk to him on Skype.

“The first time he left they doubled it and he was gone for two years, so it’s a little better than the last time,” she said. “I still don’t want him to go.”

For Spc. Ali Zariv of South Portland, preparing to leave brought mixed emotions. He said he is sad to leave home, but is proud to support his family and country with his service. He also said he is focused on keeping his family’s bond strong and plans to visit with his wife and children via Internet video phone calls.

“We’re going to miss him a lot, but I’m proud of him,” said his wife, Lynn. “I’m trying not to think about it too much because we have a long road ahead of us.”

As families spent the last few minutes before the ceremony talking and hugging, World War II veteran Red Soucy of Saco stopped to watch a young soldier embrace his wife.

“That’s sad, but we all went through it,” Soucy said with tears in his eyes. “It’s big to be away from your loved one.”

After Soucy led the crowd in a prayer asking for the unit’s safe return, Baldacci praised the soldiers for their dedication to protecting the country and encouraged their families to ask for the support they need.

“You’re protecting our liberties and freedoms so we can do what we do here,” he said. “You are the best of the best and I’m very proud of you.”

Sen. Barry Hobbins of Saco echoed the governor’s sentiments.

“What you’re doing for this country is something we will always remember,” he said. 

Platoon Leader 1^st Lt. Eric Giles said the unit will go to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, then transition to Operation New Dawn. After being presented a Maine state flag to fly in Iraq, he said the soldiers recognize and appreciate the support they have at home.

“I certainly did not expect this,” he said of the crowd gathered for the ceremony. “I’m truly overwhelmed by it.”

After the ceremony, soldiers quickly broke out of formation to spend a few more minutes with their families. In the shadow of the bus, Sgt. Justin Titcomb of Wells stood with his arm around his wife, Joana. A patrol officer with the Wells Police Department, Titcomb also deployed to Iraq in 2003. He reenlisted a couple years ago and expected to serve oversees again, he said.

“I’d feel really bad if they went somewhere without me,” he said.

Titcomb said his wife had to do more preparing for the deployment than he did. They will celebrate their first wedding anniversary June 27.

“The last few days have been the hardest,” Joana Titcomb said. The hardest part will be “not having him around, not seeing and talking to him anytime I want.”

A long double line formed near the bus doors as soldiers slowly made their way on board. Gen. Libby and Eugene Daigle of the Biddeford VFW shook their hands and said goodbye to each soldier climbing onto the bus. Saco firefighters stood by their trucks on Franklin Street to salute soldiers as the bus pulled out of the reserve center.

On North Street, 325 students and 48 staff from Young School stood shoulder to shoulder along the sidewalk, each waving an American flag. They cheered for the soldiers as the bus drove slowly toward the turnpike, where a yellow ribbon hung on each mile marker sign between Saco and the New Hampshire border. 

“Bye,” called one student. “See you soon.”

Staff Writer Gillian Graham can be reached at 282-4337, ext. 213.