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Photos by Sharron Hilbrecht, photographer
Click the link below to see more pictures of this event posted at the Kentucky National Guard's Flikr page.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kyngpao/sets/72157626821978949
[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="500" caption="Ms. Heather Wentworth, Family Readiness Group leader, gives the 149th MEB Appreciation Day trophy to jockey Julien Leparoux who rode TIDAL VOLUME to victory during the 149th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade Appreciation Day sponsored race. Photo by Sharron Hilbrecht, photographer"]
LOUISVILLE, Ky --(12 June 2011) Hundreds of family members from Kentucky's 149th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade were treated to a free day at the track, courtesy of Churchill Downs' 149th MEB Appreciation Day. Churchill Downs also sponsored a mid-afternoon horse race in honor of the 149th MEB.
[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="500" caption="Churchill Downs sponsored a 149th MEB Appreciation Day at the track, Sunday 12 June 2011"]
The family members received 149th MEB lapel pins attached to Churchill Downs family appreciation access cards during the 149th MEB departure ceremony at Freedom Hall a week earlier.
[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="333" caption="Sgt. Gurule and family members from the 149th MEB watch the horses prepare for race number 7, the 149th MEB Appreciation Day race. Photo by Sharron Hilbrecht, photographer"]
The brigade will conduct additional training at Camp Atterbury, Ind., prior to departing for Iraq later this summer.
[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="333" caption="The 149th MEB Race trophy to be presented to the winning horse, TIDAL VOLUME, of the 149th MEB Appreciation Day Race. Photo by Sharron Hilbrecht, photographer."]
More than 1,200 Soldiers are deploying in support of Operation New Dawn, the official end to combat operations by United States forces in Iraq.
While in Theatre, the 149th will be joined by Guardsmen from Oregon, Utah and Virginia, forming ‘Task Force Legion’, a combative unit of approximately 2,600 Soldiers in all.
Task Force Legion will conduct security force, base defense operations and convoy security operations in support of United States Forces-Iraq’s mission to provide stability as Iraqi Security Forces build a foundation capability to defend against external threats.
Since Sept. 11, nearly 14,000 Kentucky National Guard Soldiers and Airmen have mobilized in support of the Global War on Terror.
Click the link below to see more pictures of this event posted at the Kentucky National Guard's Flikr page.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kyngpao/sets/72157626821978949