NY Air National Guard Col. Brian Backus, a Niskayuna resident, serves as Memorial Day parade grand marshall Wednesday, May 24

New York Air National Guard Colonel Brian Backus, the commander of the 139th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron of the 109th Airlift Wing will serve as the Grand Marshall for the 89th annual Scotia-Glenville Memorial Day Parade on Wednesday, May 24.

Backus, a Niskayuna resident, joined the New York Air National Guard in 1994. During his career he has deployed to Qatar, Afghanistan and Haiti.

Prior to joining the Air National Guard, Colonel Backus was an Army Combat Medic Instructor and a Navy Submarine Nuclear Propulsion Machinist Mate.

His awards include a Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, repeated awards of the Air Force, Army and Joint Service Commendation and Achievement Medals, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal with Bronze Star, Iraq Campaign Medal with two Bronze Stars, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and Armed Forces Service Medal.

The Scotia-Glenville parade will kick off at 6:15 p.m.