NY Army National Guard marks 246th Army Birthday on June 14 at Division of Military and Naval Affairs HQ

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New York Army National Guard Major General Michel Natali (center) is joined by two Soldiers cutting the Army Birthday Cake in 2020.

LATHAM, NY (06/11/2021) (readMedia)-- The New York Army National Guard will celebrate the 246th birthday of the United States Army on Monday afternoon, June 14 at the New York State Division of Military and Naval Affairs Headquarters with a traditional cake-cutting ceremony.

One of the oldest Soldiers present will join a young Soldier in cutting the Army Birthday cake.

The Army National Guard is one of three components of the Army of the United States along with the Active Army and the Army Reserve.

WHO: Pvt. 1st Class Tyler Tomlin, a 19-year old member of the 42nd Combat Aviation Brigade from Kerhonkson, will join Chief Warrant Officer 4 Brian Sherman, a 60-year old Delanson resident, who serves with the New York Army National Guard Recruiting and Retention Battalion in cutting the Army Birthday cake. Chief Warrant Officer 5 Jacqueline O'Keefe, the New York Army National Guard Command Chief Warrant Officer will preside.

WHAT: A traditional cake-cutting ceremony commemorating June 14, 1775 which the United States Army considers its birthday. Traditionally the oldest Soldier present joins the youngest Soldier in cutting the Army Birthday cake. The older Soldier represents the history and traditions of the Army while the young Soldier represents its future. The Capital Region Chapter of the Association of the United States Army is providing the cake. The two cut the cake with a ceremonial saber.

WHERE: New York State Division of Military and Naval Affairs Headquarters, 330 Old Niskayuna Road, Latham N.Y., 12110

WHEN: 1 p.m. on Monday, June 14, 2021

Coverage opportunities:

Reporters can interview New York Army National Guard Officers and Soldiers and obtain imagery of the cake cutting ceremony.

For access to this secure military facility, please contact the Division of Military and Naval Affairs public affairs office at 786-4581.

PFC Tyler William Tomlin:

PFC Tomlin enlisted in the New York Army National Guard in March 2021. He trained as a human resources specialist at Fort Jackson, South Carolina, and serves in the personnel section of the 42nd Combat Aviation Brigade, which has aviation elements across New York and is headquartered in Latham.

The 19-year old Kerhonkson resident represented the 42nd Combat Aviation Brigade in the very demanding New York Army National Guard Best Warrior Competition and recently qualified as an aerial door gunner during training at Fort Drum.

CW4 Brian Sherman

Chief Warrant officer 4 Brian Sherman has been in uniform since 1978.

The 60-year old Delanson resident serves as a warrant officer recruiter for the New York Army National Guard. Warrant officers are technical specialists in fields ranging from aviation to field artillery to personnel management.

Sherman enlisted in the Marines in 1978 and then joined the Army in 1991 after finishing his Marine Corps enlistment. He served in the Army until 1987 when he enlisted in the Marine Corps Reserves. In 2002 he left the Marine Corps Reserve and in 2003 he put a uniform back on again as a member of the Army Reserve. He trained as a Military Police Soldier and deployed to Afghanistan and operated from Bagram.

In 2007, after moving back to New York, he joined the New York Army National Guard and in 2009 he became an member of the Active Guard and Reserve. He deployed to Afghanistan in 2012 for a second time.

In 2017, Sherman graduated from SUNY Empire State College with a bachelor's degree in business management and economics at age 56, earning a 3.96 GPA.

The Army Birthday:

When the American Revolution broke out in 1775, the American colonies did not have a single Army. Each colony had its own militia but there was no overall commander.

By June of 1775 an "army" composed of New England militia troops had a British force trapped inside Boston. But the force was poorly organized.

Recognizing the need to enlist the support of all of the American colonies, the Massachusetts Provincial Congress asked the Second Continental Congress in Philadelphia to assume authority for the New England army. Reportedly, at John Adams' request, Congress voted to "adopt" the Boston troops on June 14, although there is no written record of this decision.

Also on this day, Congress resolved to form a committee "to bring in a draft of rules and regulations for the government of the Army," and voted $2,000,000 to support the forces around Boston, and those at New York City. Moreover, Congress authorized the formation of ten companies of expert riflemen from Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Virginia, which were directed to march to Boston to support the New England militia.

George Washington received his appointment as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army the next day, and formally took command at Boston on July 3, 1775.