FAREWELL FOR N.C. GUARD BRIGADE BOUND FOR IRAQ SET FOR THURSDAY; CHAIRMAN OF THE JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF, GOVERNOR TO ADDRESS SOLDIERS

For Release: Immediate
February 10, 2004

For additional information contact:
Captain Robert N. Carver
robert.carver@nc.ngb.army.mil
North Carolina National Guard
4105 Reedy Creek Road
Raleigh, NC 27607-6410

Phone:(919) 664-6244

FAREWELL FOR N.C. GUARD BRIGADE BOUND FOR IRAQ SET FOR THURSDAY;
CHAIRMAN OF THE JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF, GOVERNOR TO ADDRESS SOLDIERS

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

RALEIGH - Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Richard B. Myers and Gov. Mike Easley will address the soldiers and families of the North Carolina Army National Guard's 30th Heavy Separate Brigade (HSB) during the unit's deployment ceremony this Thursday in Fayetteville.

The farewell for the nearly 5,000 soldiers who will begin heading to Iraq this month will take place at 2 p.m. at Crown Coliseum, 1960 Coliseum Drive.

Maj. Gen. William E. Ingram, Jr., adjutant general of the North Carolina National Guard and Maj. Gen. Dennis E. Hardy, 24th Infantry Division commander, will join Myers and Easley. The activation marks the largest call-up of North Carolina National Guard soldiers since World War Two.

The 30th HSB is the first full National Guard combat brigade activated and deployed for service in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Headquartered in Clinton, N.C., with armories in communities from Wilmington to Charlotte, the brigade also includes soldiers from West Virginia, New York, Illinois, Alabama, Ohio, Minnesota, Texas and California.

Crown Coliseum will open its doors at noon.

NOTES TO EDITORS AND REPORTERS:

News outlets are asked to advise plans to attend by 5 p.m. Wednesday by calling 919-664-6244.

Gen. Myers will have 15 minutes for media interviews immediately following the event in a room off the hallway immediately behind the stands above the team boxes. Reporters will be directed to the location. A mult box will be provided.

Electronic media planning to do live shots from the Coliseum must have their live vehicles in place at the North Loading Dock no later than 10:30 a.m. After this time, the area will be secured, and no other vehicles will be allowed in. You may begin arriving at 9 a.m.

Reporters not involved in live shots, should plan on entering the Coliseum through the North, or Main, Entrance beginning at noon. Journalists will be required to pass through security.

Video and photo positions will be set up on a riser in the team boxes on the floor of the Coliseum. A mult box will be available. After the soldiers have marched in and the ceremony has begun, photographers may leave the team boxes to get cutaways.

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