NY National Guard marks Army's 247th Birthday today, June 15 cake-cutting at Latham headquarters

LATHAM, NY (06/15/2022) (readMedia)-- New York National Guard headquarters in Latham will mark the 247th birthday of the United States Army this afternoon, June 15, with a cake cutting ceremony featuring an old Soldier and a new recruit.

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.

Although the Army Birthday is June 14, the ceremony was delayed a day because New York Army National Guard leaders attended farewell ceremonies on June 1 4, marking the deployment of 1,100 New York Army National Guard Soldiers to the Middle East.

Members of the press are invited to cover the event.

WHO: Pvt Aiden Lugo, the youngest Soldier, will join Sgt. Major Joseph Fisher, the oldest Soldier, in cutting the Army Birthday cake. New York Army National Guard Command Sgt. Major David Piwowarski will preside over the ceremony

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 will 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: 2 p.m. on Wednesday, June 15, 2022

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.

Private Aiden Lugo

Private Aiden Lugo, a Clifton Park resident who gradutes from Shenendehowa High School this month, is one month shy of this 18th birthday. He joined the New York Army National Guard in March. He has been participating in the Recruit Sustainment Program to prepare for Basic Training and will report to Fort Jackson, South Carolina for that training in August.

Sgt. Major Joseph Fisher

Sgt. Major Joseph Fisher, a 59-year-old, Bloomingdale, New York resident, has served in the New York Army National Guard since 1992.Fisher, a veteran of the Iraq War, has served in a variety of positions to include squad leader, platoon sergeant, operations sergeant, and instructor. He is currently the senior enlisted leader in the New York Army National Guard's operations section.

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.

The New York Army National Guard can trace it's history as a citizen-soldier force back to the Burgher Guard founded by New Amsterdam Governor Peter Stuyvesant in July of 1653.