Florida businesses get National Guardsmen home for Christmas

180 National Guardsmen going home in time for Christmas
Florida companies donate money to help soldiers get home
WESH News
Rikki Klaus
December 19, 2013

ORLANDO, Fla. —Several Florida companies are rising to a challenge this holiday season and helping to bring 180 National Guardsmen and women home in time for Christmas.

"It's going to be a wonderful day when they get home. Especially when they've been gone since February," said Gov. Rick Scott.

Three hundred members of the Florida National Guard's 3rd Artillery Battalion are scheduled to arrive at Camp Shelby in Mississippi on Christmas Eve. They just completed a security-force mission in Qatar.

Many were going to miss out on Christmas at home until 10 Florida companies stepped up and donated money to get them home for the holidays.

It's a Christmas gift military officials say will be invaluable to the soldiers and their families. read more here

More than 300 members of the Florida Army National Guard’s 3rd Battalion, 116th Field Artillery Regiment, are scheduled to return to the U.S. after a nearly year-long deployment in Southwest Asia, and thanks to support from Florida retailers and The American Legion they will be able to come home to central Florida while on pass for the Christmas holiday.
read more here