A sendoff ceremony to show support for about 400 members of the Air National Guard's 148th Fighter Wing who are deploying, or are already deployed, in support of Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom will be at 1:30 p.m. Sunday in the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center Auditorium.
In addition to recognizing the 320 148th Fighter Wing members who are departing for overseas and the 80 already deployed, the program also will thank their families for their sacrifices.
Members of the 148th are deploying to 12 locations worldwide for varying time frames in support of Air Expeditionary Force commanders. Lt. Col. Mark Vavra of the 148th said his unit is "on-deck" from this month until May and, during those 120 days, unit members could be deployed for all or part of that time depending on mission needs.
Among the invited guests for Sunday's ceremony are Gov. Tim Pawlenty, his wife Mary Pawlenty, U.S. Sens. Norm Coleman and Amy Klobuchar and Maj. Gen. Larry Shellito, adjutant general of the Minnesota National Guard.
Attendance at the event is reserved for invited family and friends of the deployed and deploying airmen. Because of the capacity of the room, the public is not invited.
