CONTACT: Eric Durr, 518-786-4581 or (cell) 518-429-5186

FOR RELEASE: Thursday, Feb 18, 2010

BUFFALO, NY (02/18/2010)(readMedia)-- More than 300 family members, public officials, veterans and friends from the community turned out to the Connecticut Street Armory here for a send off ceremony for members of the New York Army National Guard's 152nd Engineer Support Company. Eighty members of the Buffalo-based unit are joining other troops from the communities of Horseheads and Walton to deploy to Afghanistan as part the 827th Engineer Company. This will be the second overseas deployment for about 25 percent of the unit. The unit is comprised of various tradesmen, college students, public and private employees from the region. The unit's primary mission for Operation Enduring Freedom will be to build roads in the rugged and undeveloped regions of Eastern Afghanistan. During his remarks, the unit commander, Capt. Jeffrey Miles praised his soldiers hard work in preparing the mission as well as their performance during past state emergencies in the region including the floods which struck Western New York last August. 827 Engineer Company is a horizontal construction company, which means they specialize in building and repairing roads headquartered in Horseheads NY and is part of the 204th Engineer Battalion based in Binghamton, NY. The 827th also has a detachment in Walton, NY. The 204th Engineer Battalion is the only engineer battalion in the New York Army National Guard and plays a significant role when the Guard responds to state emergencies. For this upcoming deployment to Afghanistan, the 827th will be doing primarily road construction with D7-Dozers, Scrapers, Graders, and general earthmoving equipment. They are regularly called to assist the State with snow removal and flood support such as their recent State Mission with flooding of Delaware and Sullivan counties June 18, 2007. The Company has been augmented with additional Soldiers from the 204th Engineer Battalion located in Binghamton and the 152 Engineer Company located in Buffalo. These Soldiers from Buffalo recently assisted with flooding of Gowanda and Silver Creek, NY 11-19 August 2009. Photo Cutlines: 100218-A-2444F-0015.jpg BUFFALO-- New York Army National Guard Staff Sgt. Ronald Koestler is greeted by Col. Reginald Sanders, commander of the 153rd Troop Command, as he symbolically "crosses over" into federal service and membership in the 827th Engineer Company for deployment to Afghanistan. Members of the Knights of Columbus provided an honor guard for the event, held Thursday Feb. 18 at the Connecticut St. Armory. 100218-A-2444F-0034.jpg BUFFALO--New York Army National Guard Capt. Jeffery Miles, commander of the 827th Engineer Company from Horseheads, NY, enjoys a moment with his two-year old daughter Olivia, and wife Heather during a mobilization ceremony at the Connecticut St. Armory here on Thursday Feb. 18. Mile's company will deploy to Afghanistan to assist in infrastructure construction. 100218-A-2444F-039.jpg BUFFALO--New York Army National Guard PFC Victoria Mariana, a Buffalo State University student, speaks with the press during a mobilization ceremony at the Connecticut Street Armory here on Thursday Feb 18. Mariana, a member of the 152nd Engineer Support Company is deploying to Afghanistan with New York's 827th Engineer Company Photos by Lt. Col. Paul Fanning, New York Army National Guard

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