ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) - Gov. Mark Dayton served steaks to Minnesota National Guard soldiers and their families during an event at Fort McCoy in Wisconsin this afternoon.

The Sunday event was sponsored by "Serving Our Troops," which is a St. Paul-based civic organization led by business leaders, elected officials and restaurant owners. The group served meals to 2,400 soldiers of the Minnesota National Guard's 1st Brigade Combat Team and their families.

The Minnesota soldiers are nearing the end of their training at Fort McCoy and preparing to depart for a one-year deployment to Iraq and Kuwait.

Dayton served steaks, greeted soldiers and their families and made brief remarks at the event.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)

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