JACKSON, Miss. -- 150 Mississippi National Guardsmen will be on their way to Washington D.C. this Saturday to help provide security for Monday's inauguration of President Barak Obama. Major Christian Patterson believs this is a great honor.
 
“This is a great honor for our state, our National Guard has served proudly here in the state, and also proudly forward in places like Afghanistan and Iraq,” said Patterson
 
The Army Guard soldiers will come from military police units in Canton, Brandon and Clinton and the 155th Brigade Special Troops Battalion in Meridian. Security personnel from Flowood's 172nd Airlift Wing and Meridian's 186th Air Refueling Wing will also be deploying.
 
“They are just very happy to be able to serve and they look forward to the mission.”
 
The unit’s duties will include crowd management, traffic control and check point operations.