New York National Guard Soldiers Participating in Race Honoring Fallen Monroe Army Officer

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Soldiers of the 727th Law and Order Detachment during their awards ceremony in Afghanistan in November 2012.

CENTRAL VALLEY , NY (06/07/2013)(readMedia)-- Members of the New York Army National Guard's 727 Military Police Law and Order Detachment plan on participating in a walk/race on Sunday honoring the late Major Paul Voelke, a Monroe Soldier who died in Afghanistan in 2012.

The National Guard Soldiers are participating in the event, which will raise money for the Major Paul C. Voelke Memorial Scholarship, because they served with the 36-year old major in Afghanistan, said New York National Guard Captain Richard Powell.

"Many of the 727th's Military Police Soldiers had interactions with Major Voelke and we were present at his memorial ceremony," Powell said. "We didn't realize then that he was a fellow New Yorker and a United States Military Academy graduate."

Taking part in the race is a way to remember him, Powell said.

Voelke was assigned to 1st Battalion, 30th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division at the time of his death in Regional Command North, Afghanistan. He has served two deployments in Iraq before deploying to Afghanistan.

The five-kilometer run and two-mile walk takes place at Monroe-Woodbury High School in Central Valley at 8:45 on Sunday, June 9.

The 727the Law and Order Detachment is based at Camp Smith Training Site ,Cortlandt Manor. The 42 Soldiers assigned to the unit spent 10 months in Afghanistan conducting law and order missions at U.S. facilities and returned from deployment in November 2012.

NOTE: Members of the press can contact Capt. Richard Powell at (cell) 518-937-7893 for more information.