NY National Guard Volunteers Join Christmas Eve Road March to Remember Deployed Troops

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NY Army National Guard Soldiers volunteer to lead the Christmas Eve Road March in Glens Falls, N.Y., Dec. 24, 2021. The event is coordinated by retired Sgt. 1st Class Art Coon.

GLENS FALLS, N.Y. (12/23/2022) (readMedia)-- Volunteers from across the New York National Guard will join military family members, community supporters and Gold Star Families for the annual Christmas Eve road march December 24, 2022 here in Glens Falls, N.Y. to show support for military personnel serving overseas and those veterans no longer with us during the holidays.

Members of the New York Army National Guard recruiting team are expected to join the event coordinator, retired Sgt. 1st Class Arthur Coon, a former recruiter in Glens Falls.

The event returned in 2021 after missing 2020 due to COVID.

WHAT: The annual Christmas Eve Road March to honor military personnel

WHO: Retired New York Army National Guard Sgt. 1st Class Art Coon, his wife Julia, and hundreds of volunteers marchers join with veterans and military members.

WHERE: Cool Insuring Arena, 1 Civic Center Plaza, Glens Falls, NY 12801

WHEN: 9 a.m., Christmas Eve, Saturday, December 24, 2022.

Media Opportunity: Interviews with Art and Julie Coon, volunteers, Soldiers and Airmen who participate in the road march. The four-mile march starts and finishes at the Cool Insuring Arena.

BACKGROUND

The Christmas Eve Road March was first conducted in 2004 when Soldiers of the New York Army National Guard's Company C, 2nd Battalion, 108th Infantry, were deployed in Iraq.

A local National Guard recruiter, Sgt. 1st Class Arthur Coon, and his wife Julia, coordinated for other Soldiers assigned to the armory in Glens Falls, the 466th Area Support Medical Company, to conduct a road march in their honor.

Ten Soldiers participated in the first ever event, and it has grown into the thousands ever since.

The march has become a tradition to recognize the sacrifices being made by all American service men and women who are on-duty away from their families during the Christmas season.

"This is our 19th year supporting Soldiers and veterans who won't be home for the holidays," Julia Coon said for the 2022 event.

The effort also encourages donations for care packages to be shipped to troops overseas and provides participants with awards for key contributors.

The road march recognized the largest group, heaviest ruck for both male and female marchers, largest family and largest donation for care packages, Coon said.

Supporting area units of the New York National Guard that regularly participate include Soldiers and vehicles from the 466th Area Medical Support Company and 1427th Transportation Company, both stationed at the Queensbury Readiness Center. They are routinely joined by Airmen from the 109th Airlift Wing from Scotia, N.Y., and the 42nd Infantry Division Headquarters, based in Troy, N.Y.