SAULT STE. MARIE — While many enjoyed mild weekend weather, soldiers with the Army National Guard trained on the St. Marys River.

A Chinook helicopter lifted ribbon bridge components from Sanderson Field Airport and set them in the river, where members of the 1437th Engineering Company assembled them into a portable bridge.

More than 160 soldiers participated in the exercise, which was designed to provide two days of training and give the public a glimpse of National Guard operations.

“Our soldiers love bridging. They wake up and are ready to get out here and do their job,” said Wyatt Riehl, executive officer of the 1437th Multi Role Bridging Company. “It brings a lot of joy to them being able to do this and they are excited and very competitive as well.”

The 1437th unit in Sault Ste.

See Full Page