Guardsmen get a sendoff in Hernando

UH-60 Blackhawks fly over Brooksville this morning as people organized by redshirtfridays.org form the words "Thank You" on the ground for 80 members of the Florida National Guard's C Company, 244th Aviation Regiment (Assault), headed first to Fort Sill, Okla., for further training before deployment to Iraq. [WILL VRAGOVIC | Times]

Click here to see video of their departure.

Bob Herbst of Spring Hill waits with others standing in formation on the ground for the helicopters to fly overhead. More than 100 people helped spell out their gratitude for the soldiers to see as they flew past. [MAURICE RIVENBARK | Times]