PRESS RELEASE
June 18, 2006
 

Lansing, Mich.-- Two Michigan Army National Guard units are expected to return to Michigan tomorrow, Monday, June 19, following a 15 month tour of duty in Iraq.  Governor Jennifer M. Granholm and hundreds of families are expected to greet the 122 Soldiers from the Saginaw-based Company B, 1^st Battalion, 125th Infantry and 11 Soldiers from the Lansing-based 1^st Battalion, 119^th Field Artillery.  The Guardsmen are scheduled to arrive at Delta College in Saginaw for a homecoming celebration at 12:45 p.m.    

 Following the brief homecoming celebration, the 133 Soldiers will head home to communities throughout Michigan, including Allegan, Alpena, Big Rapids, Brighton, Cadillac, Charlotte, Cheboygan, Coldwater, Davison, Detroit, Flint, Gaylord, Grand Rapids, Greenville, Hastings, Holland, Ithaca, Jackson, Kalamazoo, Lansing, Livonia, Marquette, Midland, Muskegon, Petoskey, Portage, Port Huron, Saginaw, St. Ignace, Traverse City, Warren and Wyoming.

 The Soldiers were called to active duty February 2005 and sent to Camp Shelby, Miss., for in-processing and mission specific training.  They arrived in country July 2005.  While in Iraq, the Soldiers conducted patrols, raids, ambushes, searches and base defense operations.

 Today, approximately 1,300 Michigan National Guard Soldiers and Airmen are deployed across the globe to locations such as Afghanistan, Iraq, Kosovo, Kuwait and Kyrgyzstan.  Since Sept. 11, 2001, approximately 75 percent of the Michigan Guard has been deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom; however, as Michigan troops serve the nation, more than 80 percent of the Michigan Guard remains available and ready to respond to a state emergency including a terrorist event.

 MEDIA ADVISORY

Media is invited to attend the welcome home ceremonies in the Pioneer Gym (section "N?) at Delta College, 1961 Delta Road, University Center, Saginaw, MI 48710.  The ceremony is expected to begin at 12:45 p.m. (TIME SUBJECT TO CHANGE).  Families are expected to arrive one hour early and are available for interviews.

 For more information, contact Maj. Dawn Dancer at 517-481-8140 (office) or 517-896-0860 (cell) or

Lt. Corissa Barton at 517-481-8137 (office) or 517-896-0859 (cell).