Photo Caption: Browns Mills resident 1st Sgt. Vivian Byrd (right) receives the Meritorious Service Medal from Maj. Angelo Capolupo (left), Commander, 50th Finance Battalion, during an awards ceremony at the National Guard Armory at the National Guard Armory in Flemington. Byrd received the Meritorious Service Medal for meritorious service while serving as the First Sergeant for the 50th Finance Battalion during her deployment to Iraq. The 50th Finance Battalion, which recently completed a yearlong deployment at Camp Anaconda near the northern Iraqi city of Balad, was instrumental in creating and maintaining the first Central Funding Facility in Iraq, which held more than $400 million and was responsible for paying military and civilian personnel throughout Iraq.  Byrd is a Browns Mills native and a graduate of Lawrence High School in Lawrenceville.  She served in the military for 25 years prior to earning this award. The Meritorious Service Medal is awarded to members of the Armed Forces who distinguish themselves by outstanding non-combat achievement or service to the United States.