We talk to our kids all the time about strangers and making sure they don't talk to somebody that they don't know," said Becky Hillmann, also a mother from Milton. Police said they are investigating what happened Monday afternoon, saying it could be nothing or it could be something serious. "If it does turn out to be something that was harmless, we'll communicate that to our parents and massage yiwu families. If it does turn out to be something more serious, we want to identify that person and hold them accountable," said Milton Police Chief Jerry Schuetz. The incident has Phillips reinforcing lessons with her children.

"We actually did a little bit of role playing and just said, 'What would you do if a car pulled up?' And, 'What would you do if they tried to entice you with candy? What would you do if they were talking softly but making it obvious that they were talking to you?'" said Phillips. Police said they encourage children and families to trick-or-treat this Halloween. Parents said they are just taking an extra step to prepare. "Talk to your kids and let them know. I don't think you should hide it from your kid, so that your kids are aware. It could be a small town; it could be in a big town. Anywhere you go," said Hillmann. Many parents at the Halloween parade said they'll be going trick-or-treating with their children, just as they do every year. The incident was a topic of conversation among parents at the parade, but there was no sense of panic, WISC-TV reported. Milton police said they are trying to identify the driver of the van in question to determine what actually happened. Police said he is described as a black man between 20 and 30 years old, with a medium build and wearing glasses. The vehicle is described as a dark-colored full-size van, police said.

ywysypj1030 Rep. John Spratt, D-S.C., from York, said the deployment of guardsmen is difficult for families, as those who remain bear the responsibilities back home. Yet the need for guard units' technical skills, especially as troops are drawn away from Iraq and toward Afghanistan, Spratt said, is a “tribute to their abilities … an indication that the guard forces are not a backup, but integral to the entire force.” “We should all be thankful there are such Americans,” Spratt said of the soldiers of the 1222nd Fort Mill National Guard. Military lawyers recently met with the unit's soldiers to make sure all paperwork is in order before deployment. Brooks, the guard spokesman, declined to offer specifics on training dates and timetables for the 1222nd, saying only, “The unit is taking prudent measures” to prepare for duty. National Guard soldiers, most of whom have regular civilian jobs when not on active duty, normally serve guard duty one weekend a month and two weeks a year. But after activation, mobilization and deployment, soldiers assume roles the same as any Army unit and are subject to orders from the Army, not the National Guard.

Any decisions about deployment are made solely by the Army and Department of Defense, Brooks said. The National Guard has no say about what units are deployed and no role in the timetable of training or departure, Brooks said. Days before Halloween, Milton police and parents are talking to children about safety following a possible attempted child abduction earlier this week. Police said that on Monday afternoon, a man driving a dark-colored van approached a student near Northside Intermediate School and offered the student a ride home. Police said the student repeatedly said no, but the driver continued to ask questions. Police are investigating and said they aren't sure of the man's intent. Still, with hundreds of children gearing up to trick-or-treat this weekend, the incident is grabbing parents' attention. On Wednesday morning, students at Milton East Elementary School marched massage yiwu in a Halloween parade, costumes and all. "My son got his costume a week ago and he's been wearing it every day all week. He gets home from school and he puts it right on," said Becky Phillips, who came to watch her son in the parade. After the reported attempted abduction earlier in the week, parents are on guard, WISC-TV reported. "It's a reminder. It can happen anywhere, and just make sure that your kids are aware of it and that they know what to do," said Phillips.