PINE CITY, Minn. (AP) — A ceremony near Pine City on Saturday sends off members of the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 34th Red Bull Infantry Division on a yearlong deployment supporting the drawdown of U.S. troops from Iraq.

The ceremony is held at the Pine County Fairgrounds at noon. Speakers include U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, the state’s senior senator.

The brigade will be based in Kuwait as part of the second-largest deployment of the Minnesota National Guard since World War II.

They’ll be responsible for providing base management and security ground convoys of troops, equipment and supplies throughout Iraq.

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