ISHPEMING -- A group of National Guard soldiers from downstate made quite an entrance Wednesday afternoon, landing in Al Quaal in Ishpeming in a military helicopter.
The soldiers are in town for a quarterly checkup on the National Guard program in the U.P., ensuring the soldiers in the area are school-trained and ready if called on a mission.
The group doesn't always get to arrive like this. It just worked out that a flight was coming this way. Soldiers say the opportunity to come in on a helicopter is a win-win for the program.
"This is also a great opportunity for the pilots. When they get to do a mission like this, they also get their training and flight hours. It also allows people to travel [by air] instead of in the car," said OIC Scott Etelamaki of the 107th Engineers.
School children from Birchview Elementary got a front row seat to the landing.
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