New exhibit at New York Military Museum highlights history of the New York Air National Guard

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Beckwith Havens became the first National Guard Aviator in 1912 when he served as a New York National Guard pilot. This photo and others are part of the new exhibit at the NYS Military Museum.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY (11/19/2015)(readMedia)-- The 100-year old history of the New York Air National Guard will be the subject of a new temporary exhibit at the New York State Military Museum. "Ever Upward: The History of the New York Air National Guard" opens to the public on Saturday, Nov. 21.

Members of the press are invited to preview the exhibit on Friday afternoon. Nov. 20.

WHO: Courtney Burns, director of the New York State Military Museum and Col. Maureen Murphy, Director of Staff for the New York Air National Guard.

WHAT: A Preview of "Ever Upward" an exhibit that uses historic pictures to trace the history of New York National Guard airpower from 1908, through the World Wars and the Cold War to the present day.

WHEN: 1 p.m., Friday, Nov. 20, 2015

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

Coverage Opportunities:

Interviews with Museum Director Courtney Burns and Col. Maureen Murphy, director of staff for the New York Air National Guard.

BACKGROUND:

The New York Air National Guard

With five air wings and the 224th Air Defense Group and just under 6,000 airmen, the New York Air National Guard is the largest Air National Guard in the United States. New York Air National Guard members monitor the skies over the United States east of the Mississippi, fly supplies to research bases in Antarctica and Greenland, pilot remotely piloted aircraft over Afghanistan, transport critical supplies to military forces around the world, conduct rescue missions behind enemy lines, plan air operations, and coordinate airpower for infantrymen on the ground.

New York can boast the oldest military aviation unit in the National Guard, the 102nd Rescue Squadron, a part of Long Island's 106th Rescue Wing, and a number of aviation firsts. These include the first mass flight of military aircraft, in 1916, and the first National Guard aircraft to sit on strip alert as part of the air defense of the United States in 1953. The first woman to join the Air National Guard was also a New Yorker; Captain Norma Parsons in 1956.

The Air National Guard, which numbers about 100,000 nationally, is one of two reserve components of the United States Air Force, along with the Air Force Reserve. Unlike the Air Force Reserve, though, members of the Air National Guard also have a mission to their state . Membersof the New York Air National Guard responded to Superstorm Sandy in 2012 and Tropical Storms Lee and Irene in 2011 as well as the freak snowstorm which hit Erie County in 2014.

The New York State Military Museum

The New York State Military Museum and Veterans Research Center is housed in the historic New York State Armory in Saratoga Springs and is a component of the New York State Division of Military and Naval Affairs. The mission of the museum and research center is to preserve, interpret and disseminate the story, history and records of New York State's military forces and veterans. The collection is divided into the museum and the library/archives holdings.

The museum has permanent exhibits telling the story of New York's men and women in the Civil War, World War I, World War II, the Revolutionary War and as members of the state militia in the 19th Century. The museum has more than 10,000 artifacts ranging from the Revolutionary War to the Wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The New York State Military Museum is also responsible for the historical exhibits and artifacts at New York's 41 Army National Guard armories. These artifacts and displays, which include historic armored vehicles once used by the Guard, connect current Army National Guard Soldiers with those who served in the past.