Smiles were all around as paper, stationary and pens were distributed to members of the National Guard in Georgetown Friday morning.

Students from the Sarah Frances Academy in Georgetown gave their special gifts at the National Guard Armory.

The girls in Kindergarten through third grade, along with their parents, made the bundles in hopes that the National Gaurd members will write them letters from overseas.

The troops are scheduled to deploy from South Carolina to Afghanistan on Jan. 6.

“We appreciate what the soldiers do, and thought it would be much appreciated,’’ said Wallace Taylor, a teacher at the school.

“We’re hoping to get letters back,’’ said Kelly Murray, another teacher.

Food Lion of Maryville donated materials and parents also pitched in for the project, the teachers said.

Other efforts

The guard troops are also receiving pillows, which were purchased with contributions from county residents.

Other residents are knitting “hats for heroes,’’ which are soft caps meant to be worn underneath   heavy helmets.

Motorcycle riders in the group, Lowcountry Thunder, recently held a poker run to raise money for Pillows for Patriots.

The riders from throughout the Grand Strand gathered last month and raised $3,500 to purchase the pillows.

The group also plans to escort the troops out of town on their deployment day.

hat’s  the date he 178th Battalion of the S.C. National Guard  is scheduled to depart for a tour of duty in Afghanistan.

The news of the leave date was made public at a Christmas party for the troops and their families at the National Guard Armory in Andrews Friday.

 Lt. Cooper, an acting commander who did not give his first name, addressed the soldiers and guests at Friday’s gathering attended by hundreds.

“As we get ready to go, we ask that you keep us in your prayers and call us up before God,” he said. “We are believing God to bring everybody home safely. He did it last time we were deployed.”

State Sen. Yancey McGill — representing the local Legislative Delegation — praised the guardsmen, calling the 178th Battalion “some of the greatest patriots in the United States of America.”

McGill, calling them “our personal heroes,” echoed Cooper’s comments about prayer for the troops.

“Don’t think we won’t be thinking about you while you are gone, because we will every day,” McGill said. “It will feel really good when you come home. We will have the greatest celebration.”

The 178th is made up of bases in Georgetown, Andrews, Hemingway, Myrtle Beach, Manning and Clinton. Altogether, more than 600 soldiers are expected to take part in the deployment.

In September, Lt. Col. Ed McInnis told the Georgetown Times the Battalion is expected to be in Afghanistan about 9-and-a-half months.

If that timetable hold, the troops will be home in time for the 2010 holiday season.

Departure ceremonies will take place at each armory on Jan. 6.

Enjoying the season

Knowing their departure is less than a month away, the members of the Guard are spending their time enjoying their family and friends.

J.D. Powell  and the American Legion Post put together Friday’s party which included a barbecue buffet, free photographs from Gene’s Creations and gift bags provided by the Dollar Tree and the Georgetown VFW.

The Andrews High School NJROTC  helped  serve the meals.

Tatiana Cooper, and AHS student, said she wanted to help out at the party so she could talk to the soldiers about how they feel about leaving.

Powell said he felt compelled to help put together the party to show the troops they are being supported.

He said Jan. 6 will be a very difficult day.

“It will be teary-eyed for some of them. Especially those going for the first time because of the uncertainty of what they will face,” Powell said.

This will be the second deployment for many in the Battalion.

In July 2004 more than 150 Georgetown County residents -- as well as hundreds from other counties -- were sent to New Jersey for training.

They were deployed to Iraq in September of that year to begin conducting security force missions for convoys throughout Iraq and Kuwait.

During their time of deployment, several local organizations got together and prepared care packages, which they sent to the soldiers.

Yellow ribbons and car magnets were seen all over the county in support of the troops.

Kim Cantley, one of the organizers of the Family Support Group, said she expects to see the same thing happen during this tour of duty.

In October 2005 — the same day Iraqis went to the polls for the first time to vote on a new constitution — a celebration was held at Tommy Smith Stadium at Georgetown High to welcome the soldiers home and to honor them for their service.

By Kelly Marshall Fuller

Kfuller@gtowntimes.com