"I'm out here on the front lines ... sleep in peace tonight."

Singer Toby Keith's words travel across the room much like the military transport flying across the television screen as as the country music video for his song "American Soldier" comes to a solemn end.

Perhaps to some, the song is just another commercial attempt at patriotism.

But for the men and women who wear the uniforms (and their loved ones), these words hit home.

Michael Cannon, Jr., a career military man and a chaplain, allows the song to sink in before saying "I don't know which is harder, being the one on the plane (the soldier) or the one along the fence (the family."

Seated before him last week for the first-ever meeting of the Edgefield County Military Friends & Family Network were folks who had spent time on both sides. They included mothers and fathers, veterans, families of deployed personnel and current soldiers awaiting deployment in the weeks ahead.

Bevalie Cannon's message to them was simple - we're here for you.

"We're thrilled to be here and we're thrilled to support you," she said.

Mrs. Cannon, the catalyst of the organization, knows what military families are faced with on a day-to-day basis, with issues (such as with medical coverage and communication) seemingly arising out of the blue.

She wanted to start a local group that will offer a shoulder for military families to lean on.

Jacqueline Adamson will be needing that shoulder very soon.

The National Guard soldier is facing a year-long deployment to Orlando, Florida.

And while staying in such close proximity to Disney's home may not seem that daunting, the extended period of time in which she will be separated from her five children makes up that ground quickly.

Meeting local people who care makes the battle easier to fight.

"It feels good knowing there is something here to help keep the kids positive," she said.

On Thursday, her children - Sakerah (13), Rock (11), Montressia (10), Tatyana (10) and Kayla (6) are all smiles as they wave their American flags. Mom is still close at hand - for the moment.

But even after she leaves, there will be a network of support here for them.

Mr. Cannon outlined many of the things soldiers and their families may do to ease the pain of such prolonged absences, through being proactive (asking questions), creating recreation, having a communication plan, maintaining contact with the unit's Family Readiness Group, avoiding gossip and always praying.

Representatives from the Edgefield County VA and the Blue Star Mothers were also on hand.

"We just want to give people an opportunity to meet each other here locally and talk about what they may be going through and certain issues they may be having," Bevalie Cannon said.

The group plans to meet at the Edgefield County Public Library on the fourth Thursday of each month.