New York Army National Guard Soldiers Return to Capital Region From Iraq

Media Advisory

LATHAM, NY (01/29/2010)(readMedia)-- Ten members of the New York Army National Guard's 53rd Army Liasion Team who have spent the past year serving in Iraq will return to the Capital Region on Saturday, Jan. 30 after out processing from Active Duty at Fort Dix, New Jersey.

WHO: Ten members of the 53rd Army Laision Team and their family members.

WHAT: A welcome home with the families.

WHEN: Approximately 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 30.

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

Members of the media who wish to cover the homecoming should contact Capt. Amy Bonano at (cell) 518.701.0619 in order to secure access to this secure military facility.

Coverage Opportunities:

There will be opportunities to interview returning Soldiers and their family members. Imagery opportunities include Soldiers getting off the bus and reuniting with their families.

BACKGROUND:

53rd Army Liasion Team:

An Army liaison team's role is to ensure that different unit headquarters understands the missions and intentions of other forces the United States Army works with. During its mission in Iraq the members of the 53rd ALT performed a variety of missions.

Some Soldiers were part of the personal security detail for the commander of U.S. forces in Iraq, others augmented the staffs of the Combined Joint Operations Center, and the Strategic Operations Center in Baghdad while other officers worked with the Iraq Ministry of Defense, the United States Embassy to Iraq, the Iraqi Prime Ministers National Operations Center, and the Iraqi Ministry of State.

The 53rd Army Liaison Team is a small unit that has one of the most storied lineages in the National Guard; in fact one of the unit's ancestors gave the name National Guard to what was once known as the militia.

In 1825 the 2nd Battalion 2ndRegiment of Artillery, was assembled to welcome the Marquis de Lafayette-the French hero of the Revolutionary War-- to the United States on what was to become a famous tour of the country. In the early days of the French Revolution, Lafayette had commanded a citizen's militia known as the "Gard Nationale de Paris". To honor Lafayette the unit decided to change its name to the American version, the National Guard. Lafayette left his carriage and shook hands with every member of the unit.

The name stuck, and by the end of the 19th Century most militia units were calling themselves the National Guard, a change which was made official in 1903.

This artillery battalion was later reorganized as the 7th Regiment, and under that name participated in the Civil War. In World War I its name was changed to the 107th Infantry. Eventually the unit was deactivated in 1993 and the lineage transferred to the 107th Support Group, responsible for providing combat support to fighting units. In 2006 a further reorganization of the National Guard resulted in the consolidation of this historic unit into the 53rd Army Liaison Team.