By Lori EhdeChristmas will come early this year for a few local families with loved ones in the National Guard.The Family Readiness Group of the Minnesota National Guard, Battery A, 1-125th Field Artillery is planning a special holiday event this weekend.Most families of deployed guardsmen from Luverne and Pipestone in the 125th won’t be able to celebrate Christmas with their loved ones.But the families will have at least one party together.About 150 family members of deployed guardsmen are expected at 1 p.m. Saturday in the St. Catherine Church gymnasium.The afternoon will include a catered turkey dinner, treats from Santa and craft projects of ornaments and decorations to send to soldiers overseas.According to Family Readiness Co-Chair Gina Jarchow Newman, the party is expected to continue through the afternoon and culminate with the Winterfest Parade of Lights, at which they’ll have special seating."We hope we have enough stuff going on with the kids to keep everyone busy and to keep things lighthearted," Newman said.The main event that afternoon will be a live video conference from the soldiers in Europe to communicate with the families in Luverne."We’re told the troops are getting everything they need, but the biggest issue right now is the separation and homesickness," Newman said."So this is a really good thing for them to be able to do. They’ve been getting photos and e-mails, but there’s something about being able to see them talking and moving around live."For technical capabilities, that part of the party will have to move to the Armory.Newman said soldiers have made a movie of still photographs of them in Lakenheath, and that will be shown at the party. Also, the party itself will be videotaped to send overseas to the troops.Newman’s husband, Robert Newman, is a member of the 125th, but stayed behind to coordinate training and administration for troops, both deployed and non-deployed.Gina said she’s been doing everything she can to help families who are without their loved ones."I almost feel kind of bad and guilty that my husband is still here," she said. "So I’m trying to figure out what I can do to help. But in talking to families, all they really want is to have their husbands home."She said local organizations, including the VFW, VFW Auxiliary, American Legion, Lions Club and Eagles Club, have helped out with paying for the costs of the party."We are really happy and very thankful for the help we’ve received to put this on," Newman said."It really shows the support of the community for the work our guys are doing and for their families at home."In August, local Guard members were deployed to England to serve six months as security officers.There are 93 affected members in the local unit that includes Luverne and Pipestone. Of those, 55 serve duty at the National Guard Training and Community Center in Luverne.Twenty-three of those live in Rock County and 21 live in Nobles County.
