Sgt. Gary Melton of Ashland says good bye to his daughters Leona, 6 months, and Elaina, 5 during a departure ceremony for a platoon of 42 Virginia Army National Guard Soldiers deploying on federal active duty to Afghanistan as a Provincial Reconstruction Team Security Force March 28 at the Holiday Inn in Sandston. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Andrew H. Owen, Virginia Guard Public Affairs)