HONOLULU (AP) — Friends and family hooted and cheered while giving 1,700 soldiers in the Hawaii National Guard a raucous send-off at Aloha Stadium on Saturday before the troops leave for the Middle East later this month.

Some 6,000 supporters watched from the stands as the 29th Infantry Brigade Combat Team marched onto the stadium’s artificial turf for the hourlong ceremony.

Many screamed their loved ones’ names. Others waved large signs saying “Go For Broke, Dad” and “We Love U.”

Veterans from past conflicts, including World War II and the Korean War, showed to give their support.

Some of the soldiers will guard U.S. installations in Kuwait while others will protect convoys going into Iraq.

The brigade heads to Fort Hood, Texas, for two months of training later this month before leaving for Kuwait in October.

The deployment comes just two years after the 29th Brigade returned from Iraq.

Two years at home between war zone deployments is much shorter than the five-year target set by the Pentagon for Guard units.

U.S. Sen. Daniel K. Inouye, a World War II veteran and Medal of Honor recipient, told the soldiers he understood what they were feeling as they stood at attention on the field.

“Sixty-five years ago, I said goodbye to my parents, my brother and sister, my loved ones. So I’m well aware of the emotions that run through you. The sadness and anxiety,” Inouye. “But please know that your service to our nation and our state is deeply appreciated.”

Inouye then turned to face the soldiers and saluted them.

Gov. Linda Lingle presented the 29th Brigade’s commander, Col. Bruce Oliveira, with a state flag that flew above the State Capitol on Aug. 1 so the Guard would take a bit of Hawaii with them.

Lingle said she didn’t expect the brigade to have to deploy so soon after returning home. But she said she knew they would perform brilliantly.

“Our National Guard is simply doing its duty as it recognizes it’s obligated to do,” Lingle said.

Sgt. 1st Class Cory Vierra, a mechanic with the 1-299th Calvary in Hilo, said he’s sad to leave his family behind, but they understood.

“I told them a long time ago this is my job. And everybody agrees, they support me fully,” said Vierra, 52.

“I just hate to leave them, but it’s my country, it’s my duty.”

Vierra’s eldest son and his girlfriend came to the stadium for the ceremony but Vierra’s wife was working in Hilo and couldn’t make it.

The son, Justin Vierra, a 24-year-old graduate student at the University of Hawaii, said it will be hard to see his father leave again.

Justin Vierra said he would have the following message for his dad when he left: “Be safe, I love him. I’ll be thinking of him until he comes back. Come home safely.”

The elder Vierra said he was looking forward to briefly returning to Hilo before he’s due to deploy later this month. His unit has been on Oahu for training since mid-July.

“It’s been kind of long. This is the first break we’re going to get before our deployment,” Vierra said.

Sgt. Andrew Ching, a medic who disrupted his college education to deploy in 2005, said he suspected he would be activated again soon so he crammed in as many courses as he could to finish his degree before he was called up.

He graduated from the University of Hawaii in June. But some of his fellow citizen-soldiers didn’t finish enough courses in time and are having to take another break from school to deploy, he said.

Ching, 24, said he’s looking forward to the mission, and to paying off his college loans with the money he earns.

The Kaaawa native said he welcomed the ceremony in the soldiers’ honor.

“It feels good. It feels like we’re loved. And we appreciated it. Whatever we can get we appreciate,” said Ching, who is a member of the 100th Battalion/442nd Infantry.

At the end of the ceremony, the soldiers and audience linked arms in an attempt to set a new Guinness World Record for the largest group hug.

The current world record was set in Mexico when 6,623 people hugged for 35 seconds.

Ashley Kakazu, an 11-year-old Punahou elementary school student, proposed the record breaking attempt.

Officials said more than 8,000 people participated in Hawaii’s attempt, holding their arms around each other while entertainer Danny Kennedy sang “Spread a Little Aloha.”