Alaska Army National Guardsman Sgt. Balinda O’Neal,

Alaska Army National Guardsman Sgt. Balinda O’Neal, 134th Public Affairs Detachment, holds a picture of her brother, Spc. Randy O’Neal, who was assigned to D Troop, Division Special Troops Battalion, 1st Cavalry Division, and proudly displays for the first time her “Next of Kin” lapel pin before her wedding ceremony at the Alaska Army National Guard Memorial Park on Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson Oct. 4. Sgt. O’Neal received the “Next of Kin” lapel pin in 2010 after her brother died in an accident near Fort Hood, Texas, but hasn’t been authorized to wear it until recent changes were made to Army Regulation 670-1, which allows authorized wear on the Army service and dress uniforms.