SAGINAW, Mich. -- While many are celebrating this holiday weekend, one Mid-Michigan family is getting ready to say good-bye.

Katie Jackson, of Saginaw, joined the 783rd Army Reserve out of Inkster over a year ago.

Sunday, she leaves home to prepare for duty in Afghanistan. Jackson has been through miscellaneous training with her current title as a “generator mechanic.”

She hopes to go on to become a vehicle mechanic. Her unit was called to active duty around Easter and will be leaving Mid-Michigan July 6.

From here she will be traveling to Mississippi and then on to Afghanistan.

It is unknown how long her tour of duty is expected to last.