Guard send-off planned Wednesday

August 18, 2008 11:17 pm

— Volunteers throughout Enid are organizing to give a big send-off to the 45th Fires Brigade of Oklahoma National Guard on Wednes-day.
Fifty-four troop members from Enid will leave at 2 p.m. from the National Guard Armory, 600 E. Elm. They will board a bus at 1:30.
Staff Sgt. Cale Grau-berger, a National Guard recruiter, has been working with organizations to get people out to wish the troops well. The soldiers will train in Fort Hood, Texas, for about 90 days before shipping out to Iraq. They will be deployed for one year.
The Enid News & Eagle will print a patriotic sign in Wednesday’s newspaper people can hold up for the troops as they pass by.
“This will be in the back of the newspaper, and people can bring that section and hold it up supporting the troops,” said Cindy Allen, managing editor.
AMBUCS and Civitan clubs will be donating flags to line the route. Grauberger said organizations will have bottled water available for people who come out to say goodbye.
A group of local motorcyclists also will escort the bus at least as far as Inter-state 35.
Aircraft Structures Inter-national, located at Enid Woodring Regional Airport, is organizing an event to provide hot dogs at their facility at the airport for people who come out to show their support.
The bus route will go from the armory to Randolph, then west to Grand, south to U.S. 412 (East Garriott) and east to I-35.