Michael H. Babcock/Daily Mining Gazette Becky Klein (left) and Ellie Tchida decorate a poster Thursday night at the Calumet Readiness Center in preparation for the soldiers from the Calumet-based 1431st Sapper Company of the National Guard’s 107th Engineering Battalion. Officials from the Guard are still not sure of the exact date soldiers will be back.

CALUMET — The day has been nearly two years in the making, and is now rapidly approaching. Early next week, the soldiers from the Calumet-based 1431st Sapper Company of the National Guard’s 107th Engineering Battalion will be coming home. “It looks like it will be before Thanksgiving,” Deputy Public Affairs Officer Captain Corissa Barton said. “They are all in the United States right now, it’s just a matter of them outprocessing from Mississippi and getting here.” Barton said logistics are making the exact day unclear, and she said they might bring the soldiers up in two groups, leading to two homecoming ceremonies. While the date is almost here, families are still anxiously awaiting, and Thursday night many of the families gathered for what ended up being a therapeutic poster-making session. “Tonight (Thursday) is just helping us get through these last few days,” said Stacey Corrigan, who helped organize the event.