CONTACT: Master Sgt. Cori Lombardo, 518-225-6637

FOR RELEASE: Saturday, May 23, 2009

ON SITE: Master Sgt. Cori Lombardo, 518-225-6637

WHO:

Approx. 30 Soldiers. The remainder of the Capital Region troops, 31 Soldiers, will return directly home from Fort Dix with family members.

WHAT:

Thirty New York Army National Guard Soldiers return home to the Army Aviation Support Facility here after completing their one-year of active duty for Operation Iraqi Freedom. The Soldiers return by bus from their demobilization at Fort Dix, N.J.

WHEN:

Approximately 11:30 a.m., Saturday, May 23, 2009. Bus arrival of troops is expected at noon.

WHERE:

New York Army National Guard Armory, Old Niskayuna Road, Latham, N.Y.

More than 160 members of the New York Army National Guard's 3rd Battalion, 142nd Assault Helicopter Battalion who served in Iraq for nine months returned to the United States last weekend and completed demobilization tasks. The Capital District welcomes home more than 60 of these Soldiers this weekend. The battalion, headquartered near Long Island's Islip MacArthur Airport at the New York Army National Guard's Ronkonkoma Army Aviation Support Facility, also has a flight company near Albany International Airport in Latham, N.Y.