NJ's National Guard Prepares for Iraq

New York, NY —

This Memorial Day, the region and the nation honor those killed in combat. For thousands of New Jersey families, this year's holiday is especially poignant.

Next month, half of New Jersey's National Guard will head to Fort Bliss Texas and then, two months later, on to Iraq. The deployment of 4,000 Army and Air National Guard members is the state's largest since World War II.

For a third of the troops, this will mark their second deployment to Iraq, and for a few, their third. The deployment is scheduled to last for one year.

Back in 2006, four New Jersey Guard members were killed in combat in Iraq. All totaled, 8,000 New Jersey residents have served overseas since 2001, and 86 soldiers with roots in the Garden State have died in Iraq and Afghanistan.

This year's Guard deployment will include 200 active-duty police officers whose departure will have not only a significant impact on their families but also on their departments where they serve as first responders.