CONTACT: Lt. Col. Paul Fanning at 518-786-4581

FOR RELEASE: Thursday, May 26, 2011

ON SITE: Lt. Col. Paul Fanning at 518-786-4581

LATHAM, NY (05/25/2011)-- The New York State Division of Military and Naval Affairs and the New York National Guard will mark Memorial Day with a ceremony commemorating the 32 Army National Guard Soldiers and one New York Naval Militia member who have died in a combat zone since Sept. 9. 2001. WHO: The state and federal, civilian employees and military personnel of the Joint Forces Headquarters-New York and the Division of Military and Naval Affairs. WHAT: The Division of Military and Naval Affairs headquarters will hold a brief Pre-Memorial Day ceremony honoring the 32 members of the New York Army National Guard and one member of the New York Naval Militia, who have died while serving on active duty overseas since September 11, 2001. WHEN: 11 a.m., Thursday, May 26, 2011 WHERE: Division of Military & Naval Affairs, State Headquarters, 330 Old Niskayuna Road, Latham. Coverage Opportunities: The New York National Guard State Chaplain, Col. Eric Olsen will serve as master of ceremonies. The New York Military Forces Honor Guard will play "Taps" and fire a 21-gun Salute as part of the ceremony. New York Army National Guard Command Sergeant Major Frank Wicks will "call the roll" of Fallen members of the military forces of New York State. Major General Patrick Murphy, the Adjutant General, will deliver brief remarks. A wreath will be placed in the DMNA lobby at the "Faces of the Fallen" wall following the ceremony. Additional Information: Nearly 9,000 members of the New York Army National Guard have been mobilized and deployed for service in Iraq or Afghanistan in the wake of the terrorist attacks of 9-11, 2001. 31 Soldiers have lost their lives as a result of combat operations, accidents or other causes while serving overseas. Sergeant Heath McMillin of Canandaigua assigned to the 105th Military Police Company became the New York National Guard’s first combat loss since the Korean War July 27, 2003 when he was killed in Iraq by an IED. First Lt. Joseph Theinert from Sag Harbor, Long Island, assigned to the Headquarters 27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team in Syracuse and deployed to Afghanistan with the Army’s 10th Mountain Division was killed on June 4, 2010, also by an IED, is the most recent National Guard loss. The Division of Military and Naval Affairs began holding Pre Memorial Day programs at its headquarters in May 2005 as combat losses continued to grow to remind the community of the purpose of the Memorial Day holiday and that New York Soldiers were serving and falling in combat on behalf of the nation. Members of the media interested in attending to cover the event should contact the Division of Military and Naval Affairs Public Affairs Office at 518-786-4581 no later than 10 a.m. on May 26 for access to this secure military facility.