By Staff
LANSING - The Michigan Army National Guard insured a safe and secure environment for visitors to the 2005 North American International Auto Show.
The 51st Civil Support Team, an elite military unit based in Battle Creek, conducted chemical and radiological monitoring hours prior to the gala's opening-day events.
The mission of the 51st is to provide support to civil authorities at a potential or actual domestic chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear or explosive incident.
This is the first year the unit worked the event.
The car show has been a main stay of the Motor City since 1907.
Last year more than 800,000 visitors came to the Cobo Hall show.
This year, sponsors hope to exceed the previous year's numbers during the 10-day event.
The 51st is the Michigan National Guard's only full-time unit and is not subject to an overseas deployment.
A little more than 2,000 Michigan National Guard soldiers and airmen are deployed across the globe and at various state-side locations.
Nearly 400 additional Guard members will depart this month and next in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom (rotation 3).
As the Michigan Guard serves the nation, however, more than 9,000 members, including the 51st, remain in reserve, ready to respond to state emergencies, including homeland defense events.