For Release: Immediate  May 14, 2004

For additional information contact: Captain Robert N. Carver North Carolina National Guard Office of Public Affairs 4105 Reedy Creek Road Raleigh, NC 27607-6410 Phone:(919) 664-6244

RALEIGH - North Carolina State Representative Connie Wilson and State Senator Scott Thomas, sponsors of legislation to create a special license plate supporting the N.C. National Guard Soldiers and Airmen Assistance Fund, will hold press conferences in Raleigh and Morehead City on Monday, May 17. Representative Wilson will hold her conference at the Press Conference Room of the Legislative building at 5 p.m. Senator Thomas will hold his conference at Detachment 1, Company A, 1st Battalion, 120th Infantry Armory on 3413 Bridges St. at 11 a.m in Morehead City.

The proposed plate will have the words "In God We Trust" along with a yellow ribbon.

Proceeds from the plate will support the N.C. National Guard Soldiers and Airmen Assistance Fund, a 501C3 fund established by the North Carolina National Guard to provide grants to families in financial distress of the Guard who are overseas.

The fund was started by Chaplain Col. Aubrey McLellan. He was a chaplain for the North Carolina National Guard and served nearly 40 years in uniform before retiring following the 1991 Gulf War. One of his last acts as a soldier was to create what was then called "The Chaplain's Fund" designed to benefit the families of deployed service members.

For further information on the fund go to www.nc.ngb.army.mil. Contributions made to NCNGSAAF/Minuteman Partnership Fund may be sent to The Soldiers and Airmen Assistance Fund, P.O. Box 30786, Raleigh, N.C. 27622-0786