AUGUSTA – The carpenters, mechanics, drivers and surveyors in Maine’s largest Army National Guard unit won a holiday reprieve Wednesday.

Instead of deployment to the war in Iraq this week, members of the 133rd Engineer Battalion will get to stay home with their families until early January.

Word of the delay came as various dignitaries offered a formal send-off ceremony for the 500 members of the battalion in the State House Hall of Flags.

“We get two Christmases,” a smiling Jessica Matthews, 20, of Norway said as she held her 3-month-old daughter, Lexi, at the State House. Her husband, Spc. Jacob Matthews, was one of the unit’s Charlie Company members who was not able to make the trip to Augusta, but she attended anyway.

“I already gave him all his Christmas presents, and now he gets to stay for another three weeks and another Christmas,” she said.

Matthews said she was “scared” for the future but “very proud” of her husband. She said the Army had been “wonderful” to the families in the weeks since the citizen-soldiers were notified of the call-up. “We had our briefings and they were very reassuring,” she said. “We’re concerned, but we’ll be all right.”

Gov. John Baldacci; Maine House of Representatives Speaker Patrick Colwell, D-Gardiner; Maine Senate President Beverly Daggett, D-Augusta; Adjutant General Bill Libby; and battalion commander Col. John J. Jansen honored the men and women of the combat engineer unit, which was called up Nov. 12.

The 133rd can trace its lineage to the Mainers who served in the Civil War and fought at Gettysburg under the leadership of Col. Joshua Chamberlain.

With battle flags from those engagements ringing the Hall of Flags, the governor and other officials recalled the bravery of Chamberlain’s solders.

The 133rd is a combat engineer unit similar to a big construction company, capable of building roads and airfields as well as wood, metal and concrete buildings, complete with wiring and plumbing.

The 133rd is based in Gardiner but has units in Portland, Belfast, Skowhegan, Norway and other communities in the state.

“While you are protecting and serving the world, it is important for us to be helpful here at home,” Baldacci told the gathering. “The real heroes are not on the ball fields or the movie theater screens, but are the men and women here in this room.”

The battalion had been scheduled to leave for Fort Drum, N.Y., later this week, but the pace and quality of training in preparation for the move prompted the 1st Army Command to delay the departure.

Jansen’s wife, Raelynn Jansen, attended the ceremony with their two children, daughter Abby, 9, and son J.J., 8. Abby’s birthday is next week. “She’ll be 10 in nine days and we’re very happy he’ll be here for her birthday,” she said. “He was leaving Monday and now we have him home for the holidays.”

Raelynn Jansen, of Mount Vernon, said she was feeling a bit apprehensive but was “very excited” that her husband had an opportunity to bring his years of service and training to the service of his country.

Col. Jansen started as a second lieutenant 18 years ago and has risen to the rank of battalion commander.

Raelynn Jansen praised the work of the various service members and volunteers who have committed themselves to help families whose loved ones are overseas.

“They are volunteer soldiers, and they are leaving their families behind. So of course there is concern. They are going to a new place and they are leaving an empty place here,” she said. “An athlete doesn’t want to sit on the bench. He wants to play in the game, and these soldiers do too.”

In addressing the members of his battalion, Col. Jansen acknowledged they will face “many tests” in the months ahead. He said the unit was called to play a significant role in the stabilization of a country in need, and he expressed confidence that the battalion has the strength and qualities to do the job.

Referring to the flags carried by soldiers who served before the present members, Jansen said he expected the unit to add another streamer to the colors and add to the “great deeds” of “those who preceded us.”

Jansen saluted his troops and told them: “I am lucky because I have a team of 500 remarkable soldiers. All the soldiers in this battalion have something to offer.

“We will find out just what we are made of and we will return to Maine better people, better citizens, better workers and, most important, better family members.”