LANSING, MICH.-Friends and family will bid farewell to approximately 170 Michigan National Guard Soldiers during a deployment ceremony Saturday, June 13, 3 p.m., at the Grayling High School.

The Soldiers, assigned to the 1434th Engineer Company from Camp Grayling Maneuver Training Center, will train for approximately eight weeks at Fort McCoy, Wis., before deploying to Iraq. Their mission is to conduct full spectrum construction operations in support of Coalition and Iraqi forces in the Baghdad area.

Today, nearly 1,000 Michigan National Guard Soldiers and Airmen are deployed across the globe in support of the global war on terrorism; 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.

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MEDIA ADVISORY:

Media is invited to attend the departure ceremony scheduled to begin at 3:00 p.m. at the Grayling High School, 1135 North Old U.S. 27, Grayling, Mich., 49738. Please arrive no later than 2:30 p.m. Soldiers and family members will be available for interviews prior to the ceremony. Please note the time is subject to change.