Lansing, Mich. - The Soldiers and Airmen of the Michigan National Guard are available for media interviews for Veterans Day news coverage. However, due to the large influx of media requests, and to best serve you, we ask news organizations to coordinate interviews this week. Also, be aware most military facilities are closed on Veterans Day.

The Michigan National Guard State Public Affairs Office is committed to helping the media get the best story possible. Regardless of where your news organization is located within our state, we can help you find a Soldier or Airman to interview, given the proper time.

The Michigan National Guard has Soldiers and Airmen located in 44 armories, three training facilities (Camp Grayling, Fort Custer and the Alpena Combat Readiness Training Center) and two Air Bases (Battle Creek and Selfridge) located across the state.

The National Guard is the only military branch organized to deploy in support of both state and federal emergencies.

Today, approximately 1,600 Michigan National Guard Soldiers and Airmen are deployed across the globe in support of the war on terrorism; however, as the Michigan Guard serves the nation abroad, more than 85percent of the force is available, trained and ready to respond to a state emergency including a terrorist event.

This Veterans Day, the Michigan National Guard submits a special tribute to missing Michigan reservist, Spc. Ahmed Altaie from Ann Arbor, who is believed to have been kidnapped outside Baghdad's International Zone on Oct. 23, 2006. He was assigned to the Provincial Reconstruction Team Baghdad. Ongoing search and recovery operations continue for his successful and safe return.

Veterans Day, formerly known as Armistice Day, was originally set as a U.S. holiday to honor the official end of World War I, Nov. 11, 1918. Legislation passed in 1938, establishing November 11 as Armistice Day, a new legal holiday to honor World War I veterans. Since that time communities have gathered for parades, re-enactments, meals and other celebratory events on this special day.

In 1954, after having been through both World War II and the Korean War, the 83rd U.S. Congress amended the Act of 1938 to remove the word "Armistice" and insert the word "Veterans" in order to establish November 11 as a day to honor veterans of all wars and military service.

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