Looks like the the Florida Army National Guard 3-116th Field Artillery Battalion will be coming home for Christmas. The community rallied around the unit after hearing they might not be able to come home for their leave pass during the holidays from Mississippi. About $34,000 were raised to pay for transportation costs.
State Representative Dan Raulerson and former State Representative Rich Glorioso worked with Maj. Kyle Richardson and the American Legion Post 71 in Lake Wales to solicit funds. About $20,000 was raised through the American Legion.
The issue also caught the eye of Florida Gov. Rick Scott. Scott was able to get Florida Retail Federation members including Walmart, Publix and Walgreens to add in $15,000 as well. Locally, companies such as CAE USA in Tampa heard about the need and also added to team’s fundraising efforts.
“Thank you so much to everyone who donated as well as those who passed the Guard’s holiday wish along to others. Every individual, civic group and media outlet that took up the cause made a difference,” Raulerson said.
The unit, which includes troops based in Plant City, Arcadia, Avon Park and Lake Wales, has just returned to the U.S. after a 10 month deployment in the Middle East. Before finishing their tour, the soldiers must remain in Mississippi until January to complete demobilization. Though the Guard unit will be given an official homecoming by the Plant City community in the middle of January, the unit is being given a leave pass for the holidays. Travel during their leave time must be personally covered. For many of the troops, the cost of travel back home to Florida would have caused financial hardship.