Brig. Gen. Patrick Murphy, Director of Joint Staff for the New York National Guard signs the Army Community Covenant, Nov. 19, at the Palace Theater in Albany.

The covenant is a symbolic declaration of support from community leaders to partner with local Army and Reserve forces to improve the quality of life for Soldiers and their families.

Also signing the covenant were Albany Mayor Jerry Jennings, Troy Mayor Harry Tutunjian, Watervliet Mayor Mike Manning, Schenectady Mayor Brian Stratton and representatives from the V.A. Medical Center and the Watervliet Arsenal.

?I know we have the support from our communities,? said Brig. Gen. Murphy, who served 32 months in the Middle East. ?I know this because whenever there is a fallen warrior the community always comes out to help that family. And, around the holidays, our troops get Christmas gifts and letters from people appreciative of what they?re doing to protect our freedoms.?

The Army Community Covenant is an initiative of the Secretary of the Army Pete Geren with ceremonies similar to Albany taking place around the country for the past several months.

Soldiers flanking the Covenant are Staff Sgt. Harold Gosling, Joint Forces Headquarters, Latham, NY and Sgt. Jennifer Dowling, U.S. Army Recruiting Command, Albany, NY