NATCHEZ &045;&045; On Tuesday night, Natchez aldermen honored city employees who, for months now, have taken on a completely different job &045;&045; that of a soldier.

Mayor F.L. &uot;Hank&uot; Smith presented certificates of appreciation to five employees who have been on active duty with the military during the past year.

While their service to the city is appreciated, now &uot;they’re serving a higher cause,&uot; Smith said.

Those honored included:

4Police Sgt. Perry Bruce Sr., who served in Kuwait with an Army transportation unit during Operation Iraqi Freedom.

4Police Officer Russell Tanner, an Army counterintelligence officer who has been based in Arizona for the last several months.

&uot;The rumor is we’ll probably be shipped out in March,&uot; Tanner said.

4Police Officer Roy Woods of the Air Force, who has been based in Jackson on homeland security duty.

4Police Officer Ben Hewitt, who is with the Army’s 114th Military Police Unit based in Vicksburg and is on leave through Christmas Day.

4Fellow 114th soldier Keith Simmons, who supervises prisoner crews for the city’s Public Works Department.

Not only that, but Alderman Theodore &uot;Bubber&uot; West announced the names of the five soldiers will be engraved on a plaque that will be installed in City Hall.

The plaque is being paid for with proceeds from this year’s police-fire basketball game benefit, West said.