New York National Guard celebrates Army Birthday on Tuesday, June 14

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Command Sgt. Maj. Louis Wilson (left), Private Eric Dawson and Maj. Gen. Patrick Murphy cut the cake during ceremonies at the 240th Army Birthday in Latham in 2015.

LATHAM, NY (06/13/2016)(readMedia)-- The New York Army National Guard marks the 241st birthday of the United States Army on Tuesday, June 14 at the New York State Division of Military and Naval Affairs Headquarters with a traditional cake-cutting ceremony, featuring a veteran Soldier with 41 years of service and a young Soldier new to the Army.

Chief Warrant Officer Five Robert Wold, the New York Army National Guard Command Chief Warrant Officer from Ballston Lake, will take part in the cake-cutting event as the oldest Soldier present. The Iraq War veteran represents the Army's past, while the young Soldier, Army National Guard Pvt. 1st Class Greg Goldman, of Clifton Park, represents the future of the Army.

WHO: New York Army National Guard's oldest serving and newest Soldiers, along with Brig. Gen. Raymond Shields, commander of the New York Army National Guard and 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: New York State Division of Military and Naval Affairs Headquarters, 330 Old Niskayuna Road, Latham N.Y., 12110

WHEN: 2 p.m., Tuesday, June 14, 2016.

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. The ceremony will begin promptly at 2 pm and last about 20 minutes.

Background:

The Army Birthday:

When the American Revolution broke out in 1775, 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 Greg Goldman will represent the youngest Soldiers of the New York Army National Guard; the future of our force. Goldman, age 18, joined the Army National Guard in the summer of 2015, completing his basic combat training at Fort Benning, Ga. in September 2015. Goldman ships for his advanced individual training this July to qualify as an Explosive Ordnance Specialist with the 1108th Ordnance Company (EOD) in Scotia. Goldman is from Clifton Park, N.Y.

Chief Warrant Officer Five Robert Wold, of Ballston Lake, N.Y., is a Master Army Aviator with over 5,900 flight hours in numerous aircraft and serves as the New York State Command Warrant Officer.

Wold joined the U.S. Army in 1975 as a medium helicopter repairman. In March of 1980 he attended Warrant Officer Candidate School and graduated from flight school in January of 1981. His active duty assignments include the 25th Infantry Division, 1st Cavalry Division, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, and the 24th Infantry Division.

He joined the New York Army National Guard in 1989 with assignments in the 101st Cavalry, 1st Battalion, 142nd Attack Helicopter Battalion, 3rd Battalion, 142nd Assault Helicopter Battalion, Operational Support Airlift Command Detachment 20, and the Joint Forces Headquarters.

Wold, 59, retires in January 2017 after 42 years of military service.