"Santa Rosa County is getting ready to say goodbye to a group of service men and women. While military officials aren’t saying exactly where Milton’s 842nd Signal Company (Army Reserve) members are going, they do note they are being “mobilized in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.”

Such a designation could mean Milton may soon see its first group headed to Iraq. And if that proves to be the case, local leaders say they want to give the soldiers “a proper, good ol’ Santa Rosa send off.”

The signal company is set to convoy out of Milton on Monday, September 26, 9 a.m. They are expected to be gone for 12 to 18 months.

“Our hearts go out to the families of these people and we want them all to know that everyone in Santa Rosa County supports them,” says Santa Rosa County Commissioner Don Salter.

Officials don’t want to specifically identify family members that will now be living alone so we’ll only use first names.

Cindy, whose husband Mark is part of the local unit says, “We’re just happy that people want to do this. We’re on the boundaries of a nervous break down. We have a lot of young soldiers, newly-weds and new parents.”

Local leaders are hoping Santa Rosans will turn out in force that Monday morning to wave goodbye and offer support.
Those leaders hope:
 

• Businesses will be busy tying yellow ribbons and waving in support as the unit’s convoy passes.
• Schools will send their students out to the roadside.
• Residents will line the streets to wave goodbye as the convoy passes.

The convoy will stage at the Signal Company’s facilities on Highway 89 in Milton. Many can assemble there to watch the group leave. Officials say parking at the unit is not available, but parking is on hand at the nearby Milton Assembly of God Church and the county extension office. Others can line the convoy route.

The convoy will leave the Signal Company’s facilities, travel east on Appaloosa to Stewart Street, turn south on Stewart and continue to Highway 90, turn west on Highway 90 and travel to Avalon Blvd., and then continue down Avalon Blvd. to the interstate.

Signs will blanket the convoy route, wishing the soldiers well and officials encourage public members to bring their own signs of well wishes and to eagerly wave them as the soldiers pass.

Santa Rosa County Sheriff Wendell Hall will provide units to travel with the convoy to the county line, where Escambia county deputies will pick up the task, ushering them to the state line. Officials stress the effort is being pulled together quickly and remains “fluid”—subject to last minute changes.