Memorial Dedication to Fallen Soldiers

WILMINGTON, NC (01/19/2011)(readMedia)-- The North Carolina National Guard will hold a ceremony to unveil a memorial to honor fallen Soldiers from the 120th Combined Arms Battalion. The event will be held at the National Guard Armory in Wilmington, N.C. at 2412 Infantry Road at 2:00 pm on Saturday, January 22nd.

The 120th CAB memorial currently has four Soldiers honored who were killed during the battalion's deployment in 2003 with the 30th Heavy Brigade Combat Team. The updated battalion memorial to be unveiled Saturday will include the names of the four Soldiers who were lost in the most recent deployment in 2009.

The four Soldiers, Army Sgt. 1st Class Edward Kramer, and Army Sgts. Roger Adams, Juan Baldeosingh and Robert Bittiker were members of Company A, 120th CAB and were killed, while on patrol, when their vehicle was hit by a roadside bomb on June 29, 2009.

The battalion memorial was largely made possible through the efforts of local businessman Thomas Russell. Russell is the founder of, "Step Up for Soldiers," a volunteer, non-profit organization that assists disabled veterans and their families in order to enhance their lives.

Russell's organization raised over $85,000 for both the original memorial, erected in 2008, and also for the new upgrades. Additional money was contributed through donations from the community and Soldiers in the 120th CAB for the new additions made to the memorial.

Media representatives who wish to attend are requested to RSVP to the North Carolina National Guard Public Affairs Office at (919) 664-6242. During after-duty hours, please call (919) 612-5061 or email pao@ng.army.mil. You can visit our website at www.nc.ngb.army.mil; or follow us on Twitter at @NCNationalGuard or http://twitter.com/ncnationalguard.You can also become a fan on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Raleigh/North-Carolina-National-Guard/114802901909136.