Find an Army National Guard Recruiter Near YouContact a New York Army National Guard RecruiterJoin the Military Funeral Honors TeamContact a New York Air National Guard RecruiterBecome an Army National Guard OfficerBecome A Warrant OfficerJoin the New York Naval MilitiaJoin the New York GuardNationalguard.comJoin the Air National GuardJobsBonusesIntegrated Primary Prevention Workforce (IPPW)JobsAwards & DecorationsSuicide PreventionSexual Assault Prevention & Response (SAPR)NYS DMNA WebEOCMedical CommandService Record RequestLegal AffairsJ2 Joint Training & ExercisesChaplain ServicesEducation ServicesHuman ResourcesInspector GeneralR3SP ProgramSmall Arms Readiness & Training SectionYellow Ribbon Reintegration ProgramRetirement ServicesAESMP Customer Service PortalCommand PhotosBonusesHealthcareID Card (CAC) Office LocatorNew York Patriot planState Active Duty BenefitsJobsChaplain ServicesEducation ServicesESGR AssistanceNew York Patriot planState Active Duty (SAD)Suicide PreventionMilitary Funeral HonorsArmy National Guard BonusesHealthcarePress RoomAbout DMNAAwards & DecorationsCitizen Preparedness Training CorpsNY National Guard Annual ReportsNYS DMNA Strategic Direction 2029
FOIL/FOIAService Record RequestNew York Counterdrug ProgramMilitary Funeral HonorsMilitary Aircraft in the AdirondacksNYARNG Environmental ComplianceNew York State BudgetNew Yorkers Volunteer websiteDMNA State & Federal ContractingNot-for-Profit Corporations Benefiting the Armed Forces of the United StatesNews StoriesNY National Guard WatchJFHQ - Guard Times MagazineJournals/Blogs53TC - Minuteman NewsletterUpload MediaNYNG on DVIDSPhoto ArchiveSkibird Magazine ArchiveVideo Archive
MENANDS, NY-A New York Army National Guard Color Guard joins Civil War reenactors and members of the Patriot Guard, in honoring Civil War Soldier 1st Sgt. William Francis, a member of the famed 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, the first Black unit to fight in the Union Army. Local Civil War historians identified Francis' unmarked grave at historic Albany Rural Cemetery and arranged for the Veterans Administration to provide a new stone to mark his final resting place.
Francis, who enlisted as a private, served throughout the Civil War, including the 54th's assault on Fort Wagner, South Carolina, made famous in the 1989 movie "Glory".
DMNA Press Releases
Loading Press Releases...NY National Guard In the News
Times Union -- Tue, 17 Jun 2025 Churchill: We need a greater honor for Albany's Henry Johnson In light of Donald Trump's decision to strip the hero's name from a Louisiana Army base, Assemblyman John McDonald is proposing to rename the Patroon Island Bridge in Johnson's... (more)
27East.com -- Mon, 16 Jun 2025 Malloy Promoted to Chief Master Sergeant in the New York Air National Guard Riverhead resident Timothy Daniel Malloy was promoted to chief master sergeant in the New York Air National Guard, during a ceremony on June 6 at the 106th Rescue Wing firehouse at Francis... (more)
PBS -- Sat, 14 Jun 2025 WATCH: Trumps military parade honoring Armys 250th birthday rolls through DC (Video) Note: The 42nd Infantry Division Band and the 42nd Infantry Division is highlighted at 21 minutes into the video. WASHINGTON (AP) The grand military parade that President Donald Trump had... (more)
NYNG on GKO
