ROCK HILL, S.C.-- The thoughts of soldiers around the world are with those injured and killed in Fort Hood, TX.
But as any soldier will tell you they also know they have a mission to complete.
In Rock Hill, troops are getting ready to go to Afghanistan.
Saturday morning a salute was held to the men and women of the 12 22nd Engineer Company of the South Carolina Army National Guard.
It was a pre-deployment celebration held at the VFW post # 34 in Rock Hill.
The celebration included a hug, a smile, a pat on the back and a promise from a soldier to a loved one.
"I'm very proud of him," says one mother
One hundred five members are heading to Afghanistan.
"It's really tough. This is my first deployment but I'm sure they're going to be taken care of while I'm gone," says Dereck Adams, one of the soldiers being deployed.
As soldiers sacrifice their time away from their loved ones, trained to defend and protect the cause of the United States, their families and friends help armor them with support and love.
“I'm very proud of my husband and I'm very grateful for what he doing for our country," says one Army wife.
"It is pretty tough but with their support I think we are be able to do it," says Adams.
Until they return…"I'm going to handle as long as I've got support from my wife and family I'm coming home," says Adams.
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