It was with a strange mix of fear and pride on Monday that several Miss-Lou families watched their loved ones leave for active duty.

The 1086th Transportation Company left Vidalia’s armory, bound for training in Fort Polk, as part of the recent deployment of troops for Operation Enduring Freedom.

They don’t have their orders yet; family members won’t even know where to send letters and care packages until they get an address.

Mothers and fathers and wives wept as their loved ones rode slowly through the streets of Vidalia, but they were crying as much from fear of the unknown as they were from pride.

&uot;I’m as proud as the devil of her,&uot; one father said of his young daughter as she prepared to ship out.

&uot;They’re in full force, and they’re willing to go,&uot; another said of her father.

These men and women are leaving for an unknown war.

We are steps from conflict with Iraq, but we are also still fighting the war on terrorism throughout the world and even on the homefront.

Our thoughts and our prayers, too, go with these soldiers on their journey.

We are also proud to know that so many Miss-Lou residents are willing to do what they must to protect the freedoms of all Americans.

We know that they go with God, and we pray they return safely home.