New York National Guard Participates in Saratoga Race Course Event

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The National Guard Climbing Wall on display.

SARATOGA SPRINGS , NY (08/25/2008)(readMedia)-- The New York Army and New York Air National will be on display Wednesday, Aug. 27 as the Saratoga Race Course celebrates "Proud to Be an American Day" at the track. Guard equipment and recruiting displays will be on hand and the commander of the National Guard will present the trophy for the day's second race: The New York National Guard Citizen-Soldiers Race.

WHO: Major General Joseph Taluto, the Adjutant General and commander of the 17,000 members of the New York Army and Air National Guard, New York Army and Air Guard recruiters, and New York Army and Air Guard Soldiers and Airmen.

What: The New York Army National Guard will have a humvee and light military tactical vehicle (LMTV) truck on display, along with a physical fitness testing station and a rock climbing wall for track visitors to try out. The 109^th Airlift Wing of the New York Air National Guard, the only American military unit equipped with planes that can land on ice, will display their "Baby Herc" a replica of the C-130 Hercules the unit flies to Antarctica and Greenland. The New York State Military History Museum, which is located in Saratoga Springs, will also have a display. Major General Joseph Taluto, the Adjutant General, will present the winner's trophy to the winner of the day's second race-The New York National Guard Citizen-Soldier Race.

"The National Guard is the oldest branch of America's military, now at 371 years old. We embody the best in the American volunteer tradition," Taluto said. "We in the New York National Guard are proud to be part of Saratoga Race Course's salute to the men and women who defend our nation," he added.

When: All day, Wednesday, August 27.

Where: Saratoga Race Course, Saratoga Springs

Background:

Coverage Opportunities:

Imagery of track visitors interacting with Soldiers and Airmen, climbing the rock wall and testing their physical fitness. Opportunities to speak with Army and Air National Guard Soldiers and Airmen and interview Major General Joseph Taluto following the award of the New York National Guard Citizen- Soldier Race trophey to the winner. That race is expected to be run at approximately 1:45 p.m.

Major General Joseph Taluto:

Major General (MG) Joseph J. Taluto was appointed The Adjutant General for the State of New York on January 23, 2006. Prior to that assignment, Major Gen. Taluto served as commander of the 42nd Infantry Division; commanding Task Force Liberty-a force of 23,000 Active Duty, Reserve, and National Guard Soldiers--in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom III from 2004-2005. In 2001 MG Taluto served as the Joint Task Force Commander during the 42nd Infantry Division's initial emergency response mission to assist the City of New York in its security and recovery operations following the September 11th, 2001 terrorist attacks at the World Trade Center. He directed a force of some 2,000 Soldiers, Airmen, Sailors and Marines to assist the city's Office of Emergency Management.