LANSING -Friends and family will bid farewell to approximately 70 Michigan National Guard Soldiers from the Sault Ste. Marie based 1437th Engineer Company on Thursday as they depart for Fort McCoy, Wisc., and then Iraq for a 12 month tour of duty.

The Soldiers will train for approximately eight weeks at Fort McCoy before deploying to Iraq. Their mission will be building and maintaining bridging structures throughout the theatre of operations.

The deployment ceremony will held Thursday, November 19, at 6:00 p.m., at the Sault Area High School, 904 Marquette Ave., Sault Ste. Marie, Mich. 49783.

Today, more than 900 Michigan National Guard Soldiers and Airmen are deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom; however, as the Michigan Guard serves the nation abroad, more than 90 percent of the force is available, trained and ready to respond to a state emergency including a terrorist event.

MEDIA ADVISORY:
Media is invited to attend the departure ceremony. Please arrive no later than 5:30 p.m. Soldiers and family members will be available for interviews prior to the ceremony.

For more information, contact Senior Airman Matthew Mohundro at 517-481-8139.