This Tuesday Selma will bid

farewell to members of the Alabama National Guard 122nd Corp Support Group as they prepare to leave for Iraq.

One month after 44 of the 125 troops who make up the 122nd left to receive training at Fort Benning, Ga., those who remained behind will now be joining their comrades for overseas deployment.

The Alabama National Guard, along with city and county officials, sponsored a big send-off ceremony for the first wave of soldiers on their day of departure, and plans are now underway to do the same for the rest of the troops and their families.

Elizabeth Driggers, director of City of Selma Office of Community Development and Planning, said the public is invited to take part in a ceremony at the new National Guard Armory on Highway 80 beginning at 8:15 a.m.

The troops will fall into formation around 8:30 a.m., followed by brief program and a few remarks from ranking officers and local officials.

At 9 a.m. troops will have a few brief moments to be with their families and friends before loading the bus to Fort Benning.

The bus will follow a particular route through Selma in order for all citizens to have a chance to show their appreciation for the soldiers.

Beginning around 9:30 a.m., the bus carrying the men and women of the 122nd will travel along Highway 80 to the intersection of Highland Avenue and Broad Street.

The bus will then proceed down downtown Selma and over the Edmund Pettus Bridge.

“We are asking everybody to be sure to come out and support them,” Driggers said. “Citizens line up anywhere along the departure route to wave flags, place yellow ribbons, and display banners to show their support.”

The Downtown Selma Association is also asking businesses along the route to place flags and yellow ribbons outside their establishments.

It is not known the exact date of when the 122nd will leave Fort Benning for Iraq or how long they will be there, but the common tour of duty is one year.

The total number of Army National Guard units currently on active duty is 153,488.

Alabama has around 25 guard units deployed in Iraq and six units in Afghanistan.

The 122nd Corp Support Group was placed on alert during the first week of May and told to be prepared to head to Iraq.