Saying goodbye once was difficult enough; twice just seems unfair.

Monday’s Miss-Lou send off for members of the National Guard’s 155th wasn’t the community’s first.

In 2004 the Humvees traveled a similar route, waving to school children and locals bearing flags as the soldiers made the first leg of the journey to Iraq.

Monday’s drive by McLaurin Elementary School was déj vu, no doubt, for some of the soldiers in the military vehicles.

First Sgt. Gregory Doss spent all of 2005 in Iraq, he said Monday. And going back is just his job, he said. He’s not nervous.

But for his wife, who stays behind, the coming months will be difficult.

The Doss family and hundreds of others in our area make us proud to be Americans. We appreciate their service and sacrifice, and we know our community is lucky to have these men and women.

We’ll begin our prayers now that all the men and women of the 155th return from duty safely and quickly. And we’ll be ready to throw a welcome home party at a moment’s notice.

And we know the Miss-Lou will do as it has in years past, wrapping the families of the 155th with love and care.

Your sacrifice doesn’t go unnoticed here.