PETERSBURG, Va. (AP) — Soldiers based at Fort Lee in Petersburg are gearing up for deployment to the Middle East.

Officials say the soldiers from the Army’s 111th Quartermaster Company are set to deploy to Afghanistan and Kuwait for six months.

Family and friends are scheduled to hold a send-off ceremony for the more than 40 soldiers on Friday afternoon.

The 111th Quartermaster Company is one of the Army’s only two active duty mortuary affairs units.

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