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FOR RELEASE: Friday, Dec 03, 2010

New York National Guard Honors President Martin Van Buren

Media Advisory

KINDERHOOK, N.Y. (12/01/2010)(readMedia)-- Brigadier General Anthony P. German , Chief of Staff for the New York Air National Guard , marks the 228th birthday of President Martin Van Buren by laying a wreath at Van Buren’s grave site in Kinderhook New York on Friday. Dec. 5. WHO: Brig. Gen. German, Chief of Staff for the New York Air National Guard, Chaplain (COL) Eric Olsen, New York Army National Guard Soldiers, Kinderhook local officials and area elementary school students. WHAT: Annual recognition of former President Martin Van Buren, a Columbia County native who died -on July 24, 1862 in Kinderhook, N.Y. He was born on Dec. 5, 1782. WHEN: 10 .m. Friday, Dec. 3. WHERE: Kinderhook Cemetery, County Route 21, Kinderhook New York. BACKGROUND: The United States Military honors our former presidents by laying wreaths at their gravesites on the anniversary of their birth. The New York Army and Air National Guard traditionally conduct the wreath layings at the graves of President Chester A. Arthur in Menands, and President Martin Van Buren in Kinderhook. Coverage Opportunities: Images of the wreath laying ceremony, military colorguard, and troops in formation. There will be opportunities to interview ceremony participants. Martin Van Buren: Van Buren was the first president born under the U.S. flag. A historical marker on Kinderhook’s Hudson Street indicates the site of the Van Buren family tavern, where the president-to-be was born in 1782. He’s buried in the family plot at the Kinderhook Reformed Cemetery. Van Buren served in the White House from 1837 to 1841. He ran for re-election in 1840 but was defeated by William Henry Harrison. He sought the Democratic nomination for president in 1844, but lost to James K. Polk. In 1848 he was the unsuccessful presidential candidate of the Free-Soil Party, a group opposing an extension of slavery. That defeat marked the end of his political career. Brigadier General Anthony P. German Brigadier General Anthony P. German is Chief of Staff of the New York Air National Guard. He is the primary advisor on all Air Guard matters to the Adjutant General. General German was commissioned in 1983 through Officer Training School and received his navigator wings the same year. Prior to becoming the Chief of Staff, he served as the Commander of the 109th Airlift Wing, located in Scotia, New York. He is a Master Navigator with over 4,900 hours flying time. He spent six years on active duty before joining the Guard in 1989. He has had numerous assignments in the squadron, group and wing level. In addition, he worked at the Joint Force Headquarters Latham, New York as the Executive Support Staff Officer, and for the Office of the Secretary of Defense, Reserve Affairs as the Department of Defense Liaison officer to the National Science Foundation in Washington District of Columbia. German previously served as commander of the 109th Airlift Wing, Stratton Air National Guard Base in Scotia.
© NYS DMNA Press Release:New York National Guard Honors President Martin Van Buren
URL: https://dmna.ny.gov/pressroom/?id=1291237007
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Page Last Modified: Dec 01, 2010