WHO/WHAT: The Family Readiness Group of C Battery, 112th Fires Battalion will have a Hero Pack ceremony for children of New Jersey Army National Guard Soldiers deployed to Iraq with the 50th Infantry Brigade Combat Team.

Youth will be presented with a certificate and Hero Pack and then will be able to enjoy a snack after the ceremony with their friends and family.

Hero Packs are Operation Military Kids backpacks filled with a variety of items from the Operation Military Kids partner agencies, which are given to military youth as a “Thank You” for the sacrifices that they make while their loved ones are deployed. Hero Packs are filled with goodies intended to provide children with fun activities and ways to stay connected to their deployed parents.

Across the nation, Operation Military Kids has presented Hero Packs to more than 45,000 military youth since 2004.

WHEN: Monday, Nov. 17 at 6 p.m.

WHERE: National Guard Armory, 1200 Whitesville Rd., Toms River

Amanda Balas, New Jersey National Guard State Youth Coordinator, will be at the event to answer family program questions.