The entire Miss-Lou is invited to a full slate of celebration events Saturday, all in honor of the members of the 155th Infantry of the Mississippi National Guard.

The 155th is finally back home after a year in Iraq, where the guard soldiers participated in the fight for Iraqi freedom.

Saturday&8217;s events give all of us a chance to thank these brave soldiers for their service and for the work they did half a world away, far from their families.

Among the events on tap for Saturday:

4A parade to begin at 10 a.m. at the parking lot across from the convention center.

The parade will wind its way downtown to Martin Luther King Jr. Street. Members of the 155th are invited to participate in their desert combat uniforms, and other local groups are invited to march with patriotic items.

This is the best opportunity for local residents to show the 155th how much we appreciate what they have done for us and for their country.

4A barbecue for the 155th and their family members will be held that afternoon, and a banquet will be hald that night for members of the 155th, their families and other veterans. Sponsorships for the dinner are available; call Tracy Cowan at 601-304-0068 for information.

Perhaps the best welcome home we can give the soldiers is a simple thank you for their hard work and dedication.