Hundreds gathered in Marianna Sunday to bid farewell to their hometown heroes. About 70 soldiers from the 144th Army National Guard Transportation Company will be deployed Wednesday for training at Camp Atterbury in Indiana. They will meet up with the rest of their unit, the 1218th Transportation Company, out of West Palm Beach. The combined unit of 184 soldiers will leave for northwest Iraq in about six weeks.

1st Lt. Scott Peterson, commander of the 1218th, says, "It's going to be busy, a lot of sleepless nights, getting stuff done, both in Indiana and when we're overseas. But, that's my job. That's what I signed up for."

The company will be driving vehicles loaded with heavy equipment. Soldiers say they are prepared for their year-long deployment. Tracey Thomas says, "It's hard anytime you leave your family, it's hard. But, it's a job you have to do, go do it and come on back home."

Thomas is continuing a long line of military service, standing in the armory named for his late father, Max Thomas, former commander of the 144th. Sunday's ceremony was as much for the soldiers as it was for their families, who are beginning the process of saying goodbye to their loved ones.

Robert Knowles, father of a deployed soldier, says, "I'm already worried. He hasn't even left yet, so I'm concerned a lot about the training that he's going to be going through, the training that he's already done."

It was standing-room only in the armory, and military officials say that type of support is invaluable. Community members say it will be a tough year, but they can't wait to welcome their soldiers back with open arms.

Knowles says, "I'm very proud of my son, Brian, and good luck to everybody." Stacey Thomas says, "I just wish them all good luck, God bless 'em, and hope they all come home safe." Stacey is a member of the 144th Transportation Company and Tracey Thomas' brother, but he is staying home because he recently returned from Kuwait

During Sunday's ceremony, the company was presented with a flag of the
State of Florida. It will fly over their outpost in Iraq.