NATCHEZ &045; While most children would be outside playing or inside playing video games, Jordan Eford was putting the finishing touches on a card to a soldier in Iraq.

&uot;Make it home safely,&uot; said the handmade card, which included a picture of her and the other dozen or so children that joined her in the National Guard Armory Saturday.

They were there as part of a new program Natchez’s Junior Auxiliary has started for children of the 155th Infantry &045; and a few friends, such as Eford, who came to help.

That unit of the Mississippi Army National Guard, which includes 40-plus members from the Miss-Lou.

From now until the 155th comes home, JA members will come to the armory the second Saturday of every month to lead the children in letter writing and crafts.

The purpose: to let members of the 155th and their families know they care.

JA chapter President Cheryl Branyan said that while the military spouses that make up 155th Family Support Group have their monthly meeting, JA members will spend time leading the children through that month’s activities.

&uot;That frees up the adults to have their meeting,&uot; Branyan said.

But it also fits with JA’s mission, Branyan said.

&uot;Our motto is, ‘Care Today, Character Tomorrow,’&uot; said Branyan, whose chapter conducts a variety of charitable projects for children in the area.

&uot;We hope that by doing this today, we’ll influence their character tomorrow, letting them see people helping others.&uot;

Rhonda Rich &045; 155th spouse and mother of children ages 5, 12 and 15 &045; said it’s always good to see people supporting the troops in Iraq, showing they care. &uot;But when somebody does something like this for your child, that means more to me than anything they could ever do for me,&uot; Rich said.