Grove City area community leaders, residents and loved ones gathered Saturday to bid farewell to local Pennsylvania Army National Guard members called up for service in Europe. The Grove City Area Chamber of Commerce organized a morning send-off for members of Battery D. 229th Field Artillery, based at the George Junior Road armory. The unit, which consists of 61 soldiers, is among many statewide units called up for service in Europe to support the overseas war on terrorism known as Operation Enduring Freedom. Forty-eight members of Company A, 128th Forward Support Battalion, Butler, have already been called and about 2,000 statewide men and women serving in the 28th Infantry Division (Mechanized) will head to Europe, according to the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs.

State Sen. Bob Robbins and state Rep. Dick Stevenson spoke at the send-off, while the Rev. Don Hoagland of East Main Presbyterian Church, Grove City, led attendees in prayer.

"We are sad today, but we're also here with a great deal of pride," Robbins said. "Being an old soldier who has done it, I wish you the best and godspeed."

Prior to a red, white and blue balloon release, Robbins presented the unit with a Pennsylvania flag to take overseas.

"Bring this flag back with all of your troops after a job well done," Robbins said.

Stevenson advised the soldiers to remember their families, friends and community.

"Those are the people you're going for," he said. "We will also remember you."

The Grove City battery has been called to serve for up to one year, but will likely spend six months overseas.

Veronica Nestor, 7 months pregnant, stood cradling her 9-month-old son Dale as she explained her feelings concerning the departure of husband Staff Sgt. Delmis Nestor, 33.

"I'm proud of him," said Mrs. Nestor, 27, of Pulaski. "This is something they all train for. He does it because he has to, but we're going to miss him horribly,"

Mrs. Nestor said this would be the couple's longest time apart in six years. She said their unborn daughter will be 6 months old when Nestor gets to see her. Nestor said he felt everything would work out.

"If they let me come home for (the delivery) that would be great," he said. "I'm a little bit excited and sad that I have to leave, but I feel proud that I get to support the operation. Hopefully I'll get to tell (my children) about it someday."

Mrs. Nestor said she felt fortunate that her children were too young to understand.

"I look around and I see all of these people with older children. I'm grateful that my son can't talk or ask where his daddy is," she said.

Pamela Erdos, 44, of Mercer, said she got teary-eyed thinking about her 21-year-old son, Philip Erdos, Jr., leaving.

"I can't stop crying," she said. "We're very, very proud of him and glad that he's going to serve. I don't quite know what may happen, but at this time I feel good about it."

The junior at Edinboro University said he was looking forward to leaving.

"I'm excited to go and serve my country. It's a good opportunity for me to see a lot of Europe. I don't want to leave the people I love, my family, but other than that I'm happy to go," Erdos said.

His father, Philip Erdos Sr., said he was one of two sons in the National Guard and the only one called up so far. He said he hates to see his son go, but "somebody's got to do it."

"He's a lot more capable than someone my age," he said. "I hate to see him go, but that's life I guess."

The deployment consists of mobilization at Fort Dix, N.J., followed by a six-month tour in Europe. The unit will be assigned to offer security at military installations in Belgium and the Netherlands as part of Taskforce Keystone. They will assist in stepped-up security measures prompted by the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. Demobilization will take place upon the unit's return to the U.S.

Task Force Keystone members are being called up in three increments. The Grove City battery is the second and will be joined by soldiers from Spring City, Leighton, Pottsville, Reading, Hamburg, Hazleton, York, Philadelphia, Bethlehem and Scranton. About 800 people are affected.

The final 700 -- from Lewisburg, Sunbury, Mansfield, Plymouth, Philadelphia, Pine Grove, Kane and Lock Haven -- will be mobilized July 25.

Units in Scranton, Johnstown, Washington, Ligonier, Fiedens, Connellsville, Mount Pleasant, Butler and Clearfield already started their assignments, affecting about 800 people.

Task Force Keystone will relieve members of the 35th Infantry Division -- National Guard members from Kansas, Illinois and Kentucky -- which has been active since January.