New York Army National Guard Marks Army Birthday with Cake Cutting

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The New York National Guard marks the Army's 238th Birthday on June 14, 2013. A similar ceremony will be held in Latham this Friday, June 13.

LATHAM, N.Y. (06/12/2014)(readMedia)-- The New York Army National Guard marks the 239th birthday of the United States Army on Friday, June 13 at the New York State Division of Military and Naval Affairs Headquarters with a traditional cake-cutting ceremony, featuring a veteran Soldier with 37 years of service and a Soldier new to the Army.

Col. Joan Sullivan, the retiring New York Army National Guard State Surgeon from Ithaca, who deployed with New York Army National Guard troops to both Iraq and Afghanistan, will take part in the cake-cutting event as the oldest Soldier present. The veteran Soldier represents the Army's past, while the young Soldier, Army National Guard Pvt. 1st Class Jack Jeffers, of Clifton Park, represents the future of the Army.

WHO: New York Army National Guard's oldest serving and newest Soldiers, along with members of the Joint Force Headquarters.

WHAT: A traditional cake-cutting ceremony commemorating June 14, 1775 which the United States Army considers its birthday. On that date the Continental Congress voted to adopt the New England colonial militia troops assembled outside of Boston to confront British troops there. This is considered the creation of the Continental Army. The oldest Soldier present will join the youngest Soldier present to cut the Army birthday cake. The Capital Region Chapter of the Association of the United States Army is providing the cake.

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

WHEN: 2 p.m., Friday, June 13, 2014.

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 public affairs office at 786-4581 before arriving at the armory.

Background:

The Army's Birthday:

When the American Revolution broke out, the rebellious colonies did not possess an army in the modern sense. The revolutionaries fielded an amateur force of colonial troops, cobbled together from various New England militia companies. They had no unified chain of command, and although Artemas Ward of Massachusetts exercised authority by informal agreement, officers from other colonies were not obligated to obey his orders. The American volunteers were led, equipped, armed, paid for, and supported by the colonies from which they were raised.

In the spring of 1775, this "army" was about to confront British troops near Boston, Massachusetts. The revolutionaries had to re-organize their forces quickly if they were to stand a chance against Britain's seasoned professionals. Recognizing the need to enlist the support of all of the American seaboard colonies, the Massachusetts Provincial Congress appealed to 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.

Cake Cutters:

Private 1st Class Jack Jeffers will represent the youngest Soldiers of the New York Army National Guard; the future of our force. Jeffers, who joined the Army National Guard in September 2012, serves with Detachment 2, Company A, 1st Battalion, 642nd Aviation Support and Services Battalion in Latham. Jeffers is from Clifton Park, N.Y.

Col. Joan Sullivan, of Ithaca, N.Y., is a physician assigned as the State Surgeon for the New York National Guard Medical Command and has served in uniform since May 1977. Sullivan, an Obstetrician/Gynecologist, deployed to Iraq in 2005 as the division surgeon for the New York Army National Guard's 42nd Infantry Division Headquarters. She deployed again in the spring of 2008 as the brigade surgeon for the 27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team. Her military service also includes time in New York City after the terror attacks of 9/11, monitoring the health of National Guard Soldiers and Airmen on duty around Ground Zero.

Sullivan, 65, retires this summer after 37 years of military service.