<p>Stephon Rodgers signs the last container.</p>

The last chemical weapons have left storage at the Umatilla Chemical Depot.

A crowd of local, state and federal officials gathered at the UMCD Thursday morning for a ceremony commemorating the last enhanced onsite container, a structure used to transport containers of liquid mustard agent.

This enhanced onsite container is the 1,329th EONC that will be delivering HD (mustard) ton containers to the plant for destruction, Depot Commander Lt. Col. Kris Perkins said. I think the important thing for everybody today is not the number, but that it is the last.

Chemical weapons were first brought to the UMCD in 1962 and have been in kept in one block of igloos  low, dirt-covered structures designed for munition storage.

The mustard campaign is the final disposal campaign for the Depot. Since 2008, workers have completed 12 additional chemical munitions disposal campaigns, including land mines, rockets, bombs and nerve agent. The destruction of the last of the chemical agent means both the UMCD and Chemical Stockpile Emergency Preparedness Program (CSEPP) will begin the process of closing up shop in Umatilla County.

Its a bit of a bittersweet moment, CSEPP Project Manager Chris Brown said. On one hand, were so thankful that all the chemical weapons stored here are gone, but with that, theres also the end of our mission.

With the end in site, Depot employees have had the opportunity to sign their names or write messages on the final EONC, and some, such as Stephon Rodgers, an equipment manager, completed that process before the ceremony.

Its a marvelous day, its a glorious day, Rodgers said after signing the container. This is a day we dreamed of when I got here in 2000, and 11 years later, its a done deal. Its been a blessing to complete it with minimum injuries.

Sgt. First Class Chun Yeom of the Armys medical response team also added his name. The mustard campaign is special for the 26-year military veteran because not only is it the last for the UMCD, its the last for him.

Im retiring. This is my last mission, he said Thursday. Weve trained people at a very high level to deal with chemical weapons and to be ready to dispatch to help the victims. We can have a MOPP suit on it 59 seconds. Im very proud of being a member of this response team.

At the end of the ceremony, Depot employees Dennis Cooper and Kevin Skinner drove the EONC to the Umatilla Chemical Agent Disposal Facility.

We got to haul the very first mustard ton container to the plant, so I thought it would be a great opportunity to haul the final one, Cooper said.

An explosives operator toxic material handler, Cooper said seeing the last EONC gave him mixed emotions.

Dealing with what we do, we became a really close group, a group I call family, he said. In a way, its like everyone is growing up and moving away. Were all going to end up going different directions.

Cooper said he would like to work on the transition team, which would give him two additional years of work at the UMCD. If not, he will move on to the next project.

Working at the Umatilla Chemical Depot has been a life-changing experience for me, he said. The camaraderie between all the different groups, how everyone looks out for each other, I cant think of a better group of people to work with.

The final chemical agent is expected to be destroyed Monday at the UMCDF.