A Northern Michigan couple is raising money to give their son's army unit a proper homecoming party when it returns to Italy in the fall.

Terry and Cheryl Blaskowski lost their son Matt last September during the war in Afghanistan. His unit is based in Italy and will return there after a year of fighting.

"There's a lot of young soldiers over there that don't have families," said Cheryl Blaskowski. "We want to make sure they know how many people care about them."

In Cheboygan on Thursday night the Blaskowskis held one a in a series of fundraisers. They are trying to collect more than $100,000 to welcome the troops back to their base.

9&10's Michael Kasiborski and photojournalist Bridgette Pacholka have more from the fundraiser.

Donations for the fundraising effort can be sent to:
173rd Sky Angels Fund
c/o Terry and Cheryl Blaskowski
PO BOX 164
Cheboygan, MI 49721