Across the state, 2,700 members of the Guard are being activated for duty in Afghanistan by the end of the year.
Similar deployment ceremonies were held elsewhere around the state Friday and there were several more planned for Saturday.
Guard holds ceremony for deploying service members
JOLIET On Friday night, a mobilization ceremony was held for some of them in Joliet.
Family, friends and neighbors said goodbye to more than 135 soldiers at the Joliet armory.
