Community invited for Monday farewell to Guard unit

Sheriff Smith had this message for the soldiers:

"We go through life and come across people that inspire us to be better, and our soldiers do that all the time.

"If you think about it, our soldiers are ordinary people doing extraordinary things for people they have never met. Soldiers are unique people who drop everything they have around them to answer the call of duty to protect us as Americans. That speaks volumes about the character and integrity of the men and women who serve this country.

"I am proud of each and every one of them, and I want them to know we will pray for them and their families while they are defending this great nation. We will also pray for their safe return home.

"As for my brother, Andy, I want to tell him how proud I am of him and I love him very much. I will be looking forward to the day he returns, because he has many family and friends waiting for him to return safely.

"I will give you a quote from a movie I once saw, because it reminds me of my brother: “It takes a strong man to stand up for himself, but it takes a stronger man to stand up for others.”