163rd Family and Friends ask for your Support

Family and friends of area soldiers are preparing for the troops return to Iraq. 340 members of the 163rd based here in Evansville will go back to Iraq just after Christmas. It will be the second and even third tours of duty for many of the men and women. They say they need your support now more than ever. Rex Norton an up and coming country music star is on stage now hes been playing for about an hour for family and friends and members of the 163rd Field Artillery unit. This concert is just one of a few events happening this weekend as the troops prepare to redeploy back to Traq. Workers are putting the finishing touches on Roberts Stadium for tomorrows send off ceremony. Soldiers will fill these seats and organizers hope youll them. "Let them know our community will support them," says organizer Larry Rhodes. On January Third - nearly 350 members of the 163rd will head back to Iraq. Most for the second time "Its difficult to be a citizen soldier to be answering the call constantly." It just last year Rhodes was organizing a welcome home ceremony for the same guys. "I really thought my job was finished." The sen doff is only the beginning. Coming to the send off isnt the only way to support the troops. You can also be their for the soldiers and their families while theyre in Iraq. The 163rd Family Readiness Group is raising money to use while the troops are away. "Were having a benefit concert," says organizer April Sutton. Part of the money goes towards care packages to send to the guys overseas. The rest to the loved ones they leave behind. "Theres a lot of families that need something fixed the lawn mowed." Or just a helping hand while their fathers and husbands are taking care of the country. If you can make it out tomorrow to the send off they still have about a thousand free tickets left. The ceremony is at Roberts Stadium. It begins at 2. But if you cant make it tomorrow and would still like to show your support - you can contact any member of the family readiness group or operation support on the home front to be there for the soldiers families during their year long tour of duty.