Press Release Index
CONTACT: Lt. Col. Paul Fanning, 518-786-4518, cell (518) 441-4106
FOR RELEASE: Monday, Mar 15, 2010

Portrait Presentation Ceremony Set In Manhattan For Fallen Guardsman

Media Advisory

NEW YORK, NY (03/14/2010)(readMedia)-- A painted portrait of the late of Pfc. Wilfredo F. Urbina of North Baldwin (Long Island) will be presented to his parents at a special ceremony at the Lexington Avenue Armory Monday evening. WHO: The Urbina family including father Agusta W. and mother Jeanette Urbina and Wilfredo's sisters Arlin and Jeanin, members of the "Fighting 69th Infantry," Friends of the Fighting 69th and guests. WHAT: Portrait presentation ceremony to the family of the late Pfc. Wilfredo F. Urbina, Company A, 1st Battalion 69th Infantry Regiment, New York Army National Guard. (The ceremony will be conducted during the Sixth Annual St. Patrick's Reception -- a private fund raising event sponsored by the Friends of the Fighting 69th which has rented the use of the armory. The reception will benefit military families of the unit and American Airlines' Operation Snowball. WHEN: 7:30 p.m., Monday, March 15 WHERE: New York State Armory, 68 Lexington Avenue (Lexington Avenue and 25and 26th Streets in Manhattan) For Access to this secure military facility contact Lt. Col. Paul Fanning at (518) 441-4106. Additional Information: Pfc. Wilfredo F. Urbina was killed in Baghdad, Iraq on November 29, 2004 when the vehicle he was riding in was struck by an Improvised Explosive Device. Also killed was Sgt. Christian Engledrum, a New York City firefighter and Specialist Dan Swift, unit medic and a New York City Emergency Medical Technician was wounded. Pfc. Urbina was age 29 at the time of his death and had served in the Guard since September 2002. He previously served in the U.S. Air Force from 1994-96. He was survived by his parents and two sisters. He was posthumously promoted to the rank of Specialist and his awards and decorations included the Air Force Service Ribbon, the Purple Heart Medal, Bronze Star Medal and Combat Infantryman's Badge and Combat Medic Badge. Texas artist Phil Taylor and his wife Lisa of the American Fallen Soldiers Project will present the Urbina family with a portrait of their late son at a special ceremony at the armory where he was based since joining the National Guard this Monday evening. The American Fallen Soldiers Project is a 501© 3 non-profit organization committed to honoring the memory of fallen military personnel by presenting the next of kin with custom portraits of their late loved one at no cost. A similar portrait presentation ceremony was conducted for the Engledrum family last September 12th at the Intrepid Museum and another presentation was made to the family of the late 1st Lt. Louis Allen in January in Tuxedo Park, NY The American Fallen Soldier Project has completed and presented nearly 70 custom portraits to the families of fallen service personnel across the nation, including five members of the New York Army National Guard to date. The project is supported by American Airlines which transports the portraits and the artist free of charge from Texas to locations around the country for in-person presentations. For more information go to www.americanfallensoldiers.com Members of the media wishing to cover the ceremony should contact Phil Taylor or Lt. Col. Paul Fanning at the number provided above.
© NYS DMNA Press Release:Portrait Presentation Ceremony Set In Manhattan For Fallen Guardsman
URL: https://dmna.ny.gov/pressroom/?id=1268757568
18.232.169.110
Page Last Modified: Mar 16, 2010