Arcadia residents are encouraged to gather at
6:30 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 23, at the corner of U.S. Highway 17 South and State Road 70 West with banners, signs or American flags to show their support for local soldiers from the National Guard’s 3rd Battalion, 116th Field Artillery Unit, departing for an eventual 9-month deployment to Qatar. The troops will be given a police escort through town by the Arcadia Police Department, DeSoto County Sheriff’s Department and the DeSoto County Fire and Rescue.

The Family Readiness Center, in conjunction with the Arcadian Elks Lodge No. 1524, will be providing doughnuts, juice and coffee for families of the soldiers. In addition, troops are being provided with snack bags for their bus ride to Camp Shelby in Hattiesburg, MS.