New York State Military Museum Opens Modern New York National Guard Exhibit

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From the left, Museum Curators Courtney Burns, Chris Morton and Eric Stott position a mannequin dressed as a modern Guard Soldier in Afghanistan in the “Today’s Guard” exhibit .

SARATOGA SPRINGS , NY (09/08/2011)(readMedia)-- A new exhibit highlighting the history of the New York National Guard since Sept. 11, 2001 opens this weekend at the New York State Military Museum featuring equipment carried by Guard members at Ground Zero, in Iraq and in Afghanistan.

Museum manager Michael Aikey and Lt. Col. (Retired) Paul Fanning, who served throughout the events, will be on hand to discuss the new exhibit with members of the press on Friday, Sept. 9.

WHO: Michael Aikey, manager of the New York State Military Museum, and Lt. Col. (Retired) Paul Fanning, a retired member of the New York Army National Guard who served in Afghanistan in 2008 and served as New York National Guard Public Affairs Officer during the 9/11 period.

WHAT: New Exhibit on the Modern New York National Guard since 9/11 that features: a respirator worn by a National Guard Soldier at Ground Zero at the World Trade Center site; "Hillbilly Armor" used to protect a New York Army National Guard vehicle in Iraq; and mannequin dressed in full "battle rattle" worn by Soldiers in Afghanistan. The exhibit also includes a "Faces of the Fallen" memorial commemorating the 32 members of the New York Army National Guard who have fallen in battle since Sept. 11, 2001.

WHEN: 1 p.m., Friday, Sept. 9.

WHERE: New York State Military Museum, 61 Lake Avenue, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866

Coverage Opportunities:

Video and still imagery of the exhibit and Mr. Aikey and LTC (Ret.) Fanning discussing the exhibits and their significance. Lt. Col. Fanning can also talk about how the New York National Guard has changed since Sept. 11, 2001.

Background:

The new exhibit titled "Today's New York Army National Guard and Global War on Terror" is based on the successful Citizen Soldier exhibit the New York State Museum carried last year.

The exhibit will include displays about the mobilization, deployment and service of New York units in Iraq and Afghanistan from 2003 through 2008. The display will feature photos and information panels, equipment and uniforms and personal artifacts along with a video component showing the Guard in action at the World Trade Center, conducting home land defense and combat operations overseas.

It will be the museum's first "modern" military exhibit marking not only the 10th anniversary of the terrorist attacks but also covering historic operations which continue today. More than 3,000 New York National Guard troops are scheduled for deployment to Afghanistan and Iraq over the next year.

"We are using materials provided to us by the NYS Museum," said Courtney Burns, Curator. "We will be able to have this exhibit up and running in time for the 10th anniversary because so much material was ready for our use," he added. "Our exhibit will be tailored and will be a fitting tribute to this generation of New York warriors and those who support them."

The "Global War on Terror" gallery is the latest exhibit on deck at the Military Museum following the opening of the "A Call Not Unheeded" in the spring.

Items in the display include:

?A respirator carried by a Soldier at Ground Zero

? The combat gear worn by Major General Joseph Taluto in Iraq. Taluto, a Fort Ann resident, commanded the 23,000 Soldiers of the 42nd Infantry Division's Task Force Liberty in Iraq in 2005 and later went on to serve as Adjutant General of New York. He also led the New York National Guard task force in New York City after 9/11.

?A section of "hillbilly" armor improvised in Iraq to help protect a New York Army National Guard truck.

?A slab of marble from an Afghan building once used as a headquarters by Osama bin Laden.

? Iraqi military equipment.