NATCHEZ &045; A Saturday party planned for Natchez-area children of 155th Infantry National Guard soldiers serving in Iraq will be good for children and their parents, one mother said Wednesday.

Glenda Grayson will be there with her four children, she said, and, in fact, she is helping VFW auxiliary members set up for the activities and luncheon and getting the word out to all the 155th families.

Sponsored by the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 9573 Ladies Auxiliary, the party will give mothers a break, and children, some fun away from the usual routine, Grayson said.

&uot;All the kids need that day to go and have a good time with children who are going through the same thing they are,&uot; Grayson, mother of four children ages 1 to 11, said. &uot;It will also be good for the parents to be able to talk together.&uot;

The party, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, will be held at the VFW hall on Seargent S. Prentiss Drive, said Sharon Goodrich, a member of the auxiliary and organizer of the party.

&uot;One of the VFW missions is to support veterans,&uot; Goodrich said. &uot;When they’re not here, we support their dependents. Many of the members being Vietnam veterans, they are very cognizant of the importance of support.&uot;

The party will include face-painting and pony rides, among other games and activities, Goodrich said. &uot;Then we’ll provide lunch for the kids and the moms.&uot;

The unit left Natchez late in 2004 for training before deployment to Iraq soon after the Christmas holidays. The 155th now is stationed south of Baghdad.

Grayson’s husband, Spc. Londell Grayson, is among the soldiers. She works hard to cope with his absence, she said.

&uot;No matter how difficult it is for me, I know it’s much more difficult for him,&uot; she said. &uot;He calls as often as he can.&uot;

For her, it has been challenging; for him, it has been an eye-opener and an adjustment in daily routine, she said.

&uot;He says it is very different from what you see on TV, where you hear mostly about the protesters,&uot; she said. &uot;He says you don’t see enough about the people with tears in their eyes who say thank you to the soldiers for what they’re doing.&uot;

Goodrich said there are about 50 children among the Natchez 155th

families. &uot;They range from little babies to about age 12,&uot; she said. &uot;They are little children. We hope they all will come.&uot;