BY MATTHEW LAKIN
BRISTOL HERALD COURIER
Oct 7, 12:00 AM EDT

BRISTOL, Tenn. – Laura Mitchell said goodbye to her husband, Tony, on Father’s Day.

Since then, she and other family members of soldiers in Troop F, 2nd Squadron, of the 278th Regimental Combat Team have seen support from across the community, from the prayers of friends and neighbors to the yellow ribbons and patriotic signs that dot the highways.

They hope that support will continue Saturday, when relatives hold a yard sale to raise money for the troop’s family readiness group.

"This is the community’s way of being called to duty," said Deidre Beaudet, the group’s fund-raising chairwoman. "This is their way that they can do something for the guys in the troop."

The sale will be held from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the National Guard armory on Bluff City Highway. Proceeds will go to buy supplies for the soldiers and Christmas presents for their children.

"With their daddies gone and all, some of these children won’t have a Christmas to speak of," said Y-Vonna Poole, the family readiness group’s treasurer.

Poole, Mitchell and other family members spent most of Wednesday sorting through donated items at the armory – furniture, books, lamps, toys, dishes, knick-knacks, golf clubs – slapping on price tags and setting up tables.

Most prices will range from 5 cents to $10.

Frames and Things, a local store, donated more than 150 picture frames for the sale, and students at Northeast State Technical Community College in Blountville donated other items, as did members of Harvest Hill Baptist Church.

"I don’t think I’ve ever seen so many picture frames in my life," Mitchell said.

Altogether, the merchandise fills two rooms at the armory.

The sale also will include the popular "Godspeed" signs that have appeared around town since the troop left, along with yellow-ribbon car magnets and other patriotic decorations.

Baked goods will be on sale as well. Donated food can be dropped off at the armory.

Refreshments will be available, with portions of the proceeds going to the family readiness group.

The sale will end with a "bag sale" at 3 p.m. for $1 per bag.

"And that means anything that fits in a bag," Poole said.

Maj. Jerrold Pigg, commander of the armory, said he wasn’t surprised by the number of donations.

"I was expecting it, knowing this part of the world," he said. "This part of the state is very patriotic. We get people every day coming by wanting to support the troops."

Residents will have another chance to show their support Oct. 16 at a picnic at Lakeview Marina in Kingsport. The Nomadz, a local band that donates their tips to the family readiness group, will perform, and food and drinks will be provided.

Pigg and the family members hope to see the support for the soldiers last after they leave for Iraq in November.

"The thing that would bother them the most would be if people forgot," Pigg said.