CONTACT: Lt. Col. Richard Goldenberg, 518-786-4581

FOR RELEASE: Thursday, Mar 13, 2008

ON SITE: Master Sgt. Charles Polaccco, 845 340-7104 or cell 845 389-1560

WHO:

Mayor James Sottile and about 70 Soldiers, families and friends of the 104th Military Police Battalion

WHAT:

The 104th Military Police Battalion returns home to Kingston, New York after completing its mission in Southern Iraq to fanfare and tributes from the City of Kingston.

WHEN:

Between 12-1 p.m. Thursday, March 13

WHERE:

Kingston Mid-town Neighborhood Recreation Center, 467 Broadway, Kingston, N.Y.

Members of the New York Army National Guard return home to a heroe's welcome on March 13 as the City of Kingston escorts the Soldiers of the 104th Military Police Battalion through the heart of town to a redeployment ceremony at the Mid-Town Recreation Center, the city's former armory. The city will provide a motorcade escort of fire and police emergency vehicles from the New York State Thruway as the Soldiers pass through local Kingston Elementary Schools and arrive at Kingston High School for a short march to the mid-town recreation center for formal welcome home ceremonies. “While the 104th has been in Iraq, it has been exemplary in its extremely important mission,” said Brig. Gen. Robert Hipwell during the unit's transfer of authority mission at Camp Bucca, Iraq on February 24. Hipwell commands the 300th Military Police Brigade which commands Camp Bucca. The 104th MPs provided base defense for Camp Bucca, one of the largest Forward Operating Bases and the largest detention facility in Iraq. Hipwell said the 104th has had significant impacts at Camp Bucca, including the coordination and command of more than 1,600 security patrols in Southern Iraq and $14 million in base defense improvements. Addressing his Soldiers, the Commander of the 104th, Lt. Col. Ronnie L. Ridner, said that they had endured the hardships of separation, the dangers of combat operations, completed their mission with professionalism in keeping with the highest traditions of the Army. “We [the 104th] are all changed- we are all better men and all better women for having served our nation in the Global War on Terrorism,” Ridner said. “They protected us from the wolf in the night,” said Navy Capt. Bruce A. Derenski, the Camp Bucca Deputy Commander for Support. “Rarely have so many looked to so few for so much.” The 104th mobilized in June 2007 and conducted their predeployment training at Fort Bliss, Texas prior to their movement to Iraq in the late summer.