NEW YORK CITY--New York Army National Guard Soldiers (from left) Sgt. Edgar Rosales, Sgt. Benedict Taylor, and Sgt. Michael Decaprio monitor traffic at a New York City subway station on Christmas Eve, Dec. 24. The three Soldiers, all from New York City, are part of the New York National Guard's Joint Task Force Empire Shield, which provides a full-time security presence in New York City. The 200+ Soldier and Airman task force operates at the direction of New York Governor David Paterson and augments police and other civilian security services in the metropolitan area. Rosales is a member of the 1569th Transportation Co., Taylor belongs to the 642nd Aviation Support Battalion, and Decaprio is a member of the 727th Law and Order Detachment New York has had National Guard members on duty full-time since the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.