November 23, 2005

LANSING – Governor Jennifer M. Granholm will spend the Thanksgiving holiday weekend visiting Michigan troops in the Middle East as part of a delegation being led by the U.S. Department of Defense.  Accompanying Granholm are three other governors:  Kathleen Sebelius of Kansas, Haley Barbour of Mississippi, and Sonny Perdue of Georgia

"This trip to the Middle East gives me an opportunity to visit our brave Michigan men and women who are serving in the region," Granholm said.  "Being away from home is always difficult, particularly during the holidays, so I hope that our visit will bring Michigan a little closer to them this Thanksgiving holiday."

Granholm was in Washington on Tuesday to meet with Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, and General Peter Pace, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. 

This is Granholm's third trip outside the United States since becoming Governor.  In 2004 she visited Germany on an investment mission to bring jobs to Michigan.  Earlier this year she took a similar investment mission to Japan.

Details of Granholm's Middle East visit will be made available throughout the weekend by the Pentagon.  Please visit www.michigan.gov/gov for reports on the Governor's Middle East visit.