A couple hundred local soldiers will be giving up their home life for a yearlong tour of duty in Afghanistan. Friends, family and loved ones held a ceremony on Wednesday to honor them.

Supporters poured into the Kovalchick Convention and Athletic Complex on the Indiana University of Pennsylvania campus Wednesday afternoon to take part in a farewell ceremony for the 420th Engineer Company.

The group of about 200 soldiers has been training for the deployment to northeastern Afghanistan for about a year, but the formal orders came two months ago.

"Our job is to go out, clear routes from IED's or any potential explosives out there that could hamper maneuver of the Army's other units in theater," said Capt. John Forte, the commander of the unit.

For many of the soldiers, this isn't the first time they've been overseas.

"They've done this, so they're really excited about it," said Forte. "Some of my younger soldiers are really excited about going and really doing the mission they've trained for for the past several years and really providing good service to their country."

For the many loved ones staying behind, this is a very difficult time.

"I think [for] a lot of family members, this is their first deployment," said Kelly Davis, leader of the Family Readiness Group. "Especially for the younger soldiers, it's a little bit harder to say goodbye."

Parents, siblings, wives, husbands and children held back tears as they prepare to say goodbye in just one day.

"We're really proud of Matthew and everyone who's going," said Pamela Silkowski. "We're going to be praying for them and just sad to see them go and looking forward to a year from now when they come back."

While the soldiers said they're ready to head out and do their jobs, they said they're also anxious to come back home.

"We're pretty confident we're going to do a good job and make everyone proud," said Spc. MathhewZeppenfeld, Silkowski's son. "[But I'm] looking forward to coming home and seeing my family next year."

The soldiers will be leaving Indiana on Thursday around 6:30 p.m. The entire community is asked to line the streets of downtown Indiana to support the troops and send them off with a proper goodbye.