CONTACT: Mr. Eric Durr (518) 786-4581

FOR RELEASE: Thursday, Nov 08, 2007

ON SITE: Military History Museum Staffer Wayne Clark (518) 581-5117

WHO:

Major (retired) Paul Hillman, Col. (retired) John Edwards, Major General Joseph Taluto, the Adjutant General, Saratoga Mayor Valerie Keehn, and Mr. Michael Russo, a representative for Rep. Kirsten Gillebrand, will deliver remarks

WHAT:

The non-profit New York State MilitaryHistory Institute Presents Distinguished Veterans Award to Colonel (Retired ) John S. Edwards a Niskayuna, NY resident.

WHEN:

The event begins at 12:35 with a Color Guard and Pledge of Allegiance. Paul Hillman, aged 102, the 2006 Distinguished Veteran Honoree, will be recognized at 1 p.m. The award will be presented to Col. Edwards between 1:15 and 1:35 p.m with remarks to follow.

WHERE:

New York State Military History Museum at 61 Lake Avenue, Saratoga Springs NY.

The New York State Military History Institute, a not for profit corporation which works with the New York State Military Museum to preserve New York’s military heritage honors an outstanding veteran annually. The 2007 honoree is John Edwards, a retired Col. Who lives in Niskayuna, and who began his military career by enlisting in the United States Army Air Forces in 1943. He served in the 703rd Bomb Squadron which was commanded by Major “Jimmy” Stewart the famous movie star. He was shot down on his 24th mission over occupied Europe, with one more to go before he could return home, and was captured by the Germans. He remained on active duty and served as an Infantry Company Commander in Korea in July 1950 and also served as an Infantry Battalion Commander in Vietnam in 1966-67, earning the Legion of Merit. Along the way he participated in military atomic tests in 1952. After leaving the military he served as the Executive Director of the New York State Interdepartmental Fuel and Energy Committee and eventually became the Director of Contingency Planning for the New York State Energy Office. Edwards has been active in veterans’ affairs, organizing the New York Chapter of Ex-POWs and also founding the Northeast Chapter Korean War Veterans, Department of New York. Edwards served as the State Commander of the National Association of Atomic Veterans for ten years beginning in 1983. He was National Committee Chairman of the effort to establish the National Prisoner-of-War Museum at Andersonville, Georgia, site of an infamous Civil War prison camp, and also chaired the committee which oversaw the design of the Korean War Veterans memorial in Albany. He was the charter president of the New York State Military Heritage Institute and the New York State Military Museum. Also being honored is Major (retired) John Hillman, one of four brothers who co-founded Fort Edward Express Co. Inc., a shipping company. Hillman, who will be 103 in December, retired from the Army as a Major in 1950 after 12 years of service, even though he had never received any formal military training. He was commissioned into the Army as a Captain at age 38 in 1943 because of his expertise in transportation, engines, and engine repair. Hillman served in the 4th Armored Division, and specialized in waterproofing trucks and jeeps for the invasion of Normandy. As the division battled its way into Germany it was his job to keep its vehicles running. At one time he used parts from 13 captured German airplane engineers for that purpose. A copy of a letter to Hillman, from Gen. George S. Patton, praising him for his efforts in keeping the Army rolling, is preserved at the New York State Military History Museum.