CONTACT: Eric Durr, 518-786-4581or (cell) 518-429-5186

FOR RELEASE: Saturday, May 02, 2009

ON SITE: Sergeant Major Dave Lamouret at cell (607) 435-1658 or CPT Fred McCoy (914) 788-7342 office.

WHO:

45 Soldiers and dozens of family members of the 106th Regional Training Institute.

WHAT:

CAMP SMITH, NY (04/30/2009)-- New York Army National Guard Soldiers belonging to 106th Regional Training Institute will be recognized for their service in Afghanistan Saturday, May 2 at a Freedom Salute Ceremony at the Camp Smith New York State Training Site in Cortlandt Manor. A ceremony in which Soldiers and families will receive awards for their combat service from the United States Army and the National Guard

WHEN:

11 a.m., Saturday, May 2

WHERE:

Base Gymnasium, Bldg 508, Camp Smith, Cortlandt Manor

Coverage Opportunities: Members of the media will have an opportunity to speak with Soldiers and families about their experiences in Afghanistan and during the deployment. Visual opportunities will include medals and other awards being presented to Soldiers. Members of the media wishing to cover the Freedom Salute Ceremony should contact Sergeant Major Dave Lamouret at (607) 435-1658 cell. Background: Freedom Salute: In December 2003, National Guard Bureau in Washington, D.C., launched the Freedom Salute Campaign nationwide as a way to recognize members of the Army National Guard for service during Operations Noble Eagle, Enduring Freedom, and Iraqi Freedom and thank their spouses, children, and employers for the support they have shown to their Soldier. The Freedom Salute Campaign is one of the largest Army National Guard recognition endeavors in history. Each eligible soldier will receive an encased American flag, a lapel insignia, a commemorative coin and certificate of appreciation from the Army National Guard. The soldier's spouse/significant other will receive a lapel insignia while Soldiers who are considered a center of influence with young people will be given a Future Soldier Footlocker Kit that includes the Daring Eagle board game, Mission Command card game, and Army National Guard trading cards. 106th Regional Training Institute: Soldiers of the 106th RTI were mobilized for deployment to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in January of 2008. They were assigned to the Training Assistance Group and were based at Camp Alamo near the Kabul Military Training Center. Their mission was to oversee the continued training of new Afghan national Army Soldiers, officers and non commissioned officers. In addition, they conducted numerous humanitarian support operations to nearby Afghan villages along with members of the Afghan national Army and National Police in support of the Afghan government.