NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) — As the sun hoists itself above the James River on a steamy summer day, families of sailors on the USS Gerald R. Ford trudge through the humidity for one last glimpse of their loved ones, as they went on deployment to the U.S. European Command area of responsibility Tuesday morning. Many brought signs, smiles and tears as tugboats nudged the aircraft carrier underway.

“Nervous, sad, we’re going to miss him most definitely,” said Brooke Crespo Nieves. “We have two children, so he is definitely going to be missed.”

Perhaps on the minds of many are the rising tensions amid the ongoing conflict in the Middle East between Israel and Iran.

Nearly 4,500 sailors are expected to be in the aircraft carrier for the deployment. While the military has not announced specifically where the Ford is headed, tensions in the Middle East could change the course of the aircraft carrier.

The aircraft carrier leaves the piers just days after the U.S. bombed three of its nuclear sites and a rocky ceasefire deal with Iran and Israel. Families we spoke with said it is hard for them not to stay glued to the news, hoping for the best for those on board.

According to AP, if deployed to the Middle East, the Ford would become the third carrier group in the area.

“I pray for their safety every day,” Crespo Nieves said. “I started early and will continue to pray until they come home. You never know what’s going to happen. I think the uncertainty is the serious part.”

One father we spoke with said there is some relief in knowing his son is on this particular ship.

“Because it’s the aircraft carrier, I realize that if he’s going to be on any ship, this will be the safest,” Michael Forrest said. “It will probably be the furthest from the action because the aircraft will take care of everything and it’s going to be the most protected.”

This deployment to Europe was planned before tensions rose in the Middle East. It is to support two other U.S. Navy aircraft carriers in proximity of the region. When asked about the evolving situation in Iran, Rear Admiral Paul Lanzilotta said this has not changed the deployment plans, but they are ready to shift gears if needed.

“I don’t think it’s changed much with what’s unfolding,” he said. “This is the exact Naval mission package that you want to go over the horizon and support the national command authority, plug right in and be integrated with the joint forces and be ready to conduct our missions.”

The commander said they did have meetings with USS Harry S. Truman after its return, getting intel about what the adversaries are up to.

“I am not worried about our sailors,” Lanzilotta said. “They’re extremely resilient and awesome and they’ve been trained to a very high level, an extreme and exquisite level of readiness.”

As the carrier left the pier, cheers and applause erupted from families and friends, joined by a somber atmosphere — and a sense of pride.

WAVY’s Nick Broadway will have more information on the deployment throughout the day.