Yorktown Heights resident Capt. Michael Tillistrand takes command of D Co. 1st Battalion 69th Infantry Sunday

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Capt. Michael Tillistrand

FARMINGDALE, NY (08/16/2014)(readMedia)-- New York Army National Guard Capt. Michael Tillistrand, a Yorktown Heights resident and a veteran of the war in Afghanistan takes command of D Company, 1st Battalion 69th Infantry during as ceremony on Sunday at the Farmingdale Armed Forces Reserve Center.

WHO: Capt Michael Tillistrand, the incoming commander; Capt. Anthony R. Telesca, the outgoing commander; Lt. Col. Sean Flynn, the commander of the 1st Battalion, 69th Infantry and the men of Company D, 1st Battalion 69th Infantry.

WHAT: A traditional military change-of-command ceremony in which the guidon of the company is transferred from Telesca to Tillistrand by Flynn, signifying the change of responsibility and authority for the company from one commander to another. Traditionally the unit's color's marked the location of the commander on the battlefield and the ceremony allowed the Soldiers to know who their commander was.

WHEN: 11 a.m. Sunday, August 17, 2014

WHERE: Farmingdale Armed Forces Reserve Center, 25 Baiting Place Road, Farmingdale, NY 11735

Members of the media seeking access to this secure military facility must contact Lt. Richard J. Riley at richard.j.reilly.mil@mail.mil or phone 631-525-7020.

Coverage Opportunities:

Reporters will have the opportunity to interview the incoming and outgoing commanders, as well as Lt. Col. Sean Flynn, the commander of the 1st Battalion 69th Infantry. Imagery opportunities include the Soldiers in formation and the flag transfer ceremony.

BACKGROUND:

Capt. Michael Tillistrand

Capt. Michael Tillistrand joined the New York Army National Guard in 2001 and was commissioned through the Reserve Officer Training Corps program in 2003. He has served as a rifle platoon leader, support platoon leader, and mortar platoon leader, assistant battalion operations officer and brigade plans officer. He deployed to Afghanistan in 2008/2009 where he served as executive officer for an Afghan Border Police Embedded Training Team.

Tillistrand is a Pelham Manor Police Officer in civilian life and previously served in the New York City Police Department. He holds an Associates Degree from Valley Forge Military College and a Bachelors Degree in history from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

He is also a graduate of the US Army Infantry Officer Basic Course, US Army Infantry Mortar Leader Course, US Army National Advanced Leadership Course, Airborne School, and the Maneuver Captains Career Course.

His military awards include the, the Bronze Star l, the Army Commendation Medal, the Army Achievement Medal, the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Parachutist Badge, the Afghanistan Campaign and the National Defense Service Medal, and the NATO Medal.

Company D 1st Battalion 69th Infantry

Company D is the weapons company of the historic 1st Battalion 69th Infantry, nicknamed the Fighting 69th. The company is currently based at the Farmingdale Armed Forces Reserve Center.

The history of the 1st Battalion 69th Infantry began before the Civil War. During the Civil war Soldiers of the 69th fought at the Battle of Bull Run, the Battle of Fredericksburg ( where Confederate General Robert E. Lee reportedly gave the unit it's nickname when he described them as "that fighting 69th regiment" and the Battle of Gettysburg. During World War I the unit distinguished itself as part of the 42nd "Rainbow" Division in France and in World War II the unit fought in the Pacific on the Island of Makin and at Okinawa.

The 1st Battalion 69th Infantry was mobilized for the war in Iraq in 2004 and 2005, serving in Baghdad, and elements of the 69th deployed to Afghanistan in 2008/2009.

The Soldiers of the 1st Battalion 69th Infantry also participated in the New York State response to Tropical Storm Irene in 2011 and Superstorm Sandy in 2012.