By Jason C. Mattox

As many as 1,000 family members are expected at the Batesville Civic Center Monday to participate in a soldier send off at 9:30 a.m.

The send-off for Mississippi Army National Guard Delta Company 2-198 is being organized by members of the Family Readiness Group.

Megan Merritt, a representative of the Family Readiness Group, said the send-off will have a family-only hour from 8:30-9:30 a.m. The community program will follow.

Batesville Mayor Jerry Autrey, who will address the crowd Monday morning, said he hopes the community will come together to show support for the troops.

“We all need to support our troops and the families they are going to leave behind,” he said. “They are going to need help and support, and I told the families I have talked to not to hesitate to call the city if there is anything we can do to help.”

When the send-off is over, troops will load buses bound for Camp Shelby, Miss., where they will stay until April 24.

Mobilization is scheduled for May 1 at Camp Shelby.

“We wanted to get this done early,” Merritt said. “We wanted that last week of April to be a family week before they go back to Shelby for mobilization.”

Merritt said the Family Readiness Group is expecting at least 950 family members for the send-off and would like to see the community come out to show their support.

One show of support being organized for the event is a roadside flag waving as the buses depart Monday.

“We want as many people as possible to line the streets and show support by waving flags as our troops leave for Shelby,” she said.

For more information contact Merritt at 901-334-8401.

Panola County soldiers attached to Company A of the 2/198th Combined Arms Battalion will receive a send-off during a luncheon and parade in Hernando on Commerce Street.

U.S. Senator Roger Wicker will be the guest speaker.

For more information on Company B, call Julie Harris at 662-429-9092.