PALESTINE — The community and family members gathered for a send-off celebration Thursday to say good-bye to members of Palestine’s National Guard Delta Unit 144, who are scheduled to deploy to Afghanistan this week.

Close to 30 members of the unit will be deployed — some from the Palestine area, and others from Tyler, Houston and the Dallas areas.

National Guard soldier Michael Kubara, 23, of Tyler, will be deployed for the first time.

“I have been with the National Guard for four years now. It’s like a big family to me,” Kubara said. “My goal is to serve my country and come home safely.”

Kubara’s parents Bobby and Karen Kubara and fiancee Emily Grammer were in attendance.

“I’m nervous but very proud,” Karen Kubara said.

National Guard Sgt. Alvie Watson from the Dallas area will be deployed for the fourth time — leaving son Dakota Watson, 3, and a fiancee, Mimi Chavez from the Dallas area.

“I’ve been in the military for 19 years so it’s instilled in me. I have a serious love for my country,” Watson said. “But it’s the families that make the sacrifices, even more than we do. I don’t know what I would do without them.”

National Guard soldier Vernell Johnson of Palestine is being deployed for the first time.

“I’m ready to serve my country,” Johnson said.

National Guard soldier Justin Stringer, 26, of Palestine, will be deployed for the third time.

“It gives me a chance to do what I’ve always wanted to do, which is search and rescue. I haven’t had a chance to do that yet during the two previous deployments, but that’s why I got involved with the National Guard,” Stringer said.

Both Johnson and Stringer work for Harry’s Building Materials in Palestine. Stringer also is a reserve police officer.

The send-off celebration was sponsored by the Veterans’ Historic Education Center of Palestine and the National Guard Delta Unit 144 Family Readiness Group, led by leader Phyllis King.

“It’s our opportunity to thank them for the freedoms we enjoy every day. Without our soldiers, we wouldn’t have the freedom we have,” King said before the event.

Veterans’ Historic Education Center founder Anne Coleman and director Evelyn Cupit were surprised with the presentation of a special state award from the Texas National Guard and a dozen yellow roses each during the celebration.

The award recognized the VHEC for going “above and beyond” for the National Guard unit — hosting Christmas parties, open house events for the community, collecting school supplies for the families and other unit activities.

“We started doing Christmas parties for the families and their children with the National Guard about three years ago and then started doing other events,” Cupit said. “The guys really grew on us. They are really good guys. We thought they were leaving earlier in the year, but then that changed. But then we got a call a few weeks ago saying they were going to be deployed and wanted to do this for them.”

Cupit thanked the community for helping with donations for the event.

“People were really generous with donations. The community here, since signing the Community Covenant, has really stood behind it. That’s what this is about. We believe in our soldiers and support them,” Cupit said.

Now that the soldiers are being deployed, the VHEC will help the local FRG to make sure the families left behind are supported.

“What most people don’t realize is when these guys leave, one paycheck leaves too. They get paid but not what they are used to getting,” Cupit said. “We try to help their families maintain what they have.”