KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) – Just two days before shipping out for training, members of the Tennessee Army National Guard 278th Armored Cavalry Regiment took one more lead in the community.

Friday night marked the 2009 WIVK Christmas Parade in Downtown Knoxville. The parade route stretched down Gay Street and featured Santa Claus, dancers and 93 floats. Leading the way was the Knoxville-based unit whose members were appointed the annual event’s grand marshals.

"It's an awesome honor because everyone here deserves this,” said SSgt. Mickey Peacock, a member of the unit.

Peacock marched along with the members of his unit, bringing up the back of the column with his young daughters in tow.

“I wasn't going to do it, but my girls wanted to do it,” he said. “I was just trying to spend some time with my family.”

The father is one of the many soldiers in the 278th that will board buses on Sunday for Camp Shelby in Mississippi. After two months of training they’ll be deployed to Iraq for the second time in five years. Friday evening offered the community one last chance to say goodbye to them in droves.

“Everybody that is here is here because they made the choice to serve our country,” said SSgt. Peacock. “To be honored as grand marshals was a great honor.”

It also gave to soldiers an opportunity to show East Tennessee and their loved ones what they’ll spend the next year doing half way across the world.

"This gives me a chance to sit back and allow my family to see not only what I do, but the people I’m going to be doing it with,” said Sgt. William Wilson of the 278th. “It shows the people here who is fighting for them.”

Virtually every member of the 278th has said the community support they’ve received has been overwhelming. It’s also made family members realize how few special moments are left before the unit’s impending deployment.

“It makes me really sad because I really miss him,” said Camryn Peacock, SSgt. Peacock’s daughter.

“I'm really going to miss him,” said Kayla Peacock, his other daughter. “I'm just glad he gets to come home for Christmas!"

As for members of the 278th, the next year will be a difficult one. At the same time, they realize how important they are to the nation.

”I don't want to leave my family,” said SSgt. Peacock, “but it's what I was told to do and that's what I am going to do.”