Camp Smith opens memorial wall honoring fallen New York National Guard members today, Feb. 27

Media Advisory

CAMP SMITH TRAINING SITE, NY (02/27/2020) (readMedia)-- The Camp Smith Training Site garrison will dedicate a memorial to New York National Guard Soldiers and Airmen who have died in combat since 2001 today, Thursday, Feb. 27 at 5 p.m. Members of the press are welcome to cover the event.

WHO: Members of the Camp Smith garrison, Major General Ray Shields, the Adjutant General of New York, and families of fallen Soldiers.

WHAT: Dedication of a Fallen Heroes Memorial Wall in Building 508 at Camp Smith that displays metal lithograph photos of the 39 New York National Guard Soldiers and Airmen who have died in Iraq and Afghanistan since the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. The event will include remarks, an unveiling and showing for family members of fallen service members and then a reception.

WHEN: 4:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 27, 2020. (Event will take place at 5 p.m.)

WHERE: Camp Smith Training Site, 11 Bear Mountain Bridge Road, Cortlandt Manor, N.Y.

Members of the press wishing to cover this event must contact Sgt. Jonathan Pietrantoni at (914) 944-6523 for access to this secure military facility.

Coverage Opportunities:

Reporters will be able to speak with National Guard leaders about the significance of the event and obtain still and video images of the unveiling and ceremony.

BACKGROUND:

Camp Smith Training Site in Cortlandt is the New York State Division of Military and Naval Affairs'

premier training facility.

Camp Smith is used by the New York Army and AirNational Guard, the New York Guard,

the New York Naval Militia as well as by Army, Air Force and Marine Corps Reserve members, National Guard members from other states, and local, state and federal law enforcement agencies, and the United States Military Academy.

National Guard Soldiers have been training at Camp Smith since the 1880s.

"Because so many New York National Guard Soldiers and Airmen pass through Camp Smith during training, we felt this would be an appropriate place to remember the Soldiers and Airmen who've been called upon to make the ultimate sacrifice since the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. New members of the National Guard can learn about the sacrifices of those who went before them," explained Lt. Col. Robert Zizolfo the training center manager.

The new memorial wall replaces a temporary display of photographs which was initially erected in 2011.

The memorial will in Building 508 feature a picture of each Soldier or Airman, along with a brief narrative of their service mounted on wall painted with an American flag.

The dedication ceremony and remarks will take place in the Building 508 conference room. Because the area where the wall is being erected is relatively narrow there will be an initial showing for families of fallen service members first, followed by a general display.