For many of us, we take four wheels for granted. We hop behind the wheel of our cars and trucks and scoot about as though the rolling machines were part of our bodies.

Many of us don&8217;t think twice at the idea of driving a few miles &8212; or even 100 or more &8212; to get ourselves where we need or want to be.

For others, however, the lack of transportation is an almost crippling issue. No vehicle may mean limited food, limited social interaction and limited health care.

Yes, the freedom of mobility is a vital one, yet we&8217;re often ignoring the very people who protected our rights to have the freedom to drive wherever and whenever we want.

Local veterans rights advocate Erle Drane, an ardent crusader for the rights of military veterans, is working to resolve the long standing need.

Drane is working a project that would combine the resources of the Natchez-Adams Veterans Services Office along with similar offices in Franklin and Lincoln counties. His aim is to be able to provide transportation for veterans in Southwest Mississippi to and from the VA Medical Center in Jackson.

That&8217;s the kind of can-do, out of the box thinking that we need to resolve problems that may otherwise seem insurmountable.

After what the veterans have done for our country, giving them a ride seems the least we can do.