As members of the Georgia National Guard continue supporting the U.S. – Mexico border mission in New Mexico, Soldiers of Thomasville’s 1148th Transportation Company took up a border mission of their own along the Georgia-Florida state line.

The five Guardsmen, Sgt. 1st Class Harris Cody, sergeants Nathaniel Tyler, Sheryl Murphy and John Adison, and Spc. Demitrius Stringer greeted two Clearwater, Fla., residents walking cross-country as part of the Pittsburg, Pa.,-based Operation Troop Appreciation.

Member of the 1148th with Goodrich and Tapp

Adam Goodrich and Christopher Tapp began their four-month, 3,500 mile trek in July, starting from Seattle, Wa. Their reaching the Georgia-Florida border recently brings them closer to the end of their walk in Tallahassee, Fla.

Word of what Goodrich and Tapp are doing reached the 1148th Soldiers by way of their parent unit, Newnan’s 201st Service and Support Battalion, and Guard officials in Atlanta.

“There was no hesitation on our part about meeting these guys and showing our support of them,” Cody said speaking for his fellow Soldiers. “If they’re making the effort to do all that walking just to show us and our brothers-in-arms how much they appreciate what we do, it’s least we could do for them.”

When Cody, Tyler, Murphy, Adison and Stringer met the walkers at the state line, all shook hands, passed along gifts and posed for a group picture. A short time later, Goodrich and Tapp said their goodbyes, turned south and headed off for Tallahassee, leaving the Georgians feeling even prouder of themselves, their fellow service members and their country, than they already did, Murphy said.