WCAX.COM Local Vermont News, Weather and Sports-Vermonters React to Deployment News

Vermonters React to Deployment News

Burlington, Vermont - July 3, 2009

An unscientific street survey reveals Vermonters have mixed feelings about the upcoming deployment of 1,500 Vermont guard soldiers to Afghanistan.

"Obviously you never want to see troops in harm's way," said David Bean of Colchester. "But when there's a job to do it's nice to know we have the right people to go."

Bean's opinions were similar to those of most of the Vermonters who agreed to speak to us on camera about the plans to deploy Vermont guard soldiers to Afghanistan early next year.

"Regardless of what people think about the war in Iraq, I think most people would support what we did initially in Afghanistan and the job's not done," Bean said.

WCAX News approached nearly two dozen people to ask them to speak with us on-camera about the guard deployment. Most of them declined, saying they absolutely support the troops, but they do not support their mission, and they didn't want to say that publicly on camera.

Only six of the people we approached agreed to speak on camera.

All six, like Charles Root of Williston, expressed support for the troops and their mission.

"This is a voluntary force and these men understand what they're involved in when they sign those papers that they may one day be faced with going over to some other place in the world where people are going to be shooting at them," Root said.

Aja Thompson's support was not a surprise. Her husband is an air guard soldier about to be deployed to Saudi Arabia for nine months while she stays home with their four young children, expecting their fifth.

"They do whatever they can in their power to support our country and what the president feels is necessary to do to support our country. So yes, I'm behind it and my husband is too, even though he's going to be leaving for a while," Thompson said.

"I'm sad in a way," said Cheri Neill, whose son is in the Vermont Guard. "But at the same time I understand the need for it because I don't think it's just about Americans. I think it's about setting, helping other people achieve their freedom."

The opinion of a soldier's mother for her son's mission in our unscientific survey that found 100 percent for the troops-- but only 25 percent support for their upcoming mission.

Brian Joyce - WCAX News

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Vt. Guard to Deploy 1,500 to Afghanistan