Gov. Gretchen Whitmer addressed soldiers of the Michigan Army National Guard 156th Expeditionary Signal Battalion on April 2.
Two separate ceremonies took place. Whitmer attended and addressed the ceremony that took place at Howell High School.
Between the two separate ceremonies, the other one taking place at the Battle Creek Air National Guard Base, 350 soldiers gathered with family members and guests as they prepared to depart for deployment to the Middle East.
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Whitmer expressed to the crowd her thanks for the soldiers' service in keeping Michiganders safe.
“The Michiganders who serve our state and nation in uniform are the best of us. Their service and the sacrifices that their loved ones make keep us safe. They have our unwavering support as they embark on this new deployment, and we will continue supporting our military families here at home," Whitmer said.
U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Lawrence E. Schloegl assistant adjutant general and deputy director of the Michigan Department of Military and Veterans Affairs was also apart of the address.
Schloegl informed those in attendance of the services extended to soldiers and their families through the Yellow Ribbon Program event.
"Prior to deployment, soldiers and their families attended a Yellow Ribbon Program event designed to educate, assist and provide resources to help support families and minimize any hardships related to deployments," Schloegl said.
This is the first deployment for the 156th Expeditionary Signal Battalion in all of its six years since establishment, according to the Michigan Executive Office of the Governor.