Planning an event can be a lot of work, especially when you're doing it alone.

When Linda Dixon's son, Tommy Early, was deployed to Iraq, all she could think about was his return.

"Last year before he went to Iraq, I promised him, I said when you come back for a couple of weeks, before you go back, I'm gonna throw you the biggest parade you've ever seen, and he said 'I'm gonna hold you to that," Dixon said.

Now, that's just what she's trying to do.

"I don't care if I don't sleep and how long it takes or how many discouraging things happen, I'm gonna get this parade on the road," she said.

Even though Linda is working hard to make the parade happen, she said she can't do it without community support.

So local business people like Lisa Shingleton, a salon owner, are doing what they can to lend a hand.

"I just want to give back because that's what it's all about. If she's gonna support me, I"m gonna support her and help her, and this is very important to her," Shingleton said.

Dixon said it's not only important because of her son, but because she feels all military troops need a little encouragement.

The parade is scheduled for next Saturday, the 13th, at 11 a.m. in St. Marys.