North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory challenges military children to see who can safely get to the top of the grand stair-case the fastest at the Back to School Brigade hosted by the governor and the first lady at their residence in Raleigh, N.C., on Aug. 24, 2013. The event provided children with free backpacks and school supplies provided by John Deere Agricultural and Turf Division’s Cary Office, Wells Fargo & Co. team members, Operation Homefront and the N.C. National Guard Family Program. Nearly 50 families attended the event and more 30 of them were North Carolina National Guard families. (U.S. Army National Guard Photo by Sgt. Mary Junell, North Carolina National Guard Public Affairs /Released)