CONTACT: First Sgt. Eduardo Martinez, (718) 736-4757

FOR RELEASE: Sunday, May 17, 2009

ON SITE: First Sgt. Eduardo Martinez, (718) 736-4757

WHO:

About 200 Soldiers and family members from Headquarters and Headquarters Company 1st Battalion, 258th Field Artillery and Company G, 427th Forward Support Company.

WHAT:

New York Army National Guard Soldiers belonging to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 258th Field Artillery will be recognized for their service in Afghanistan Sunday, May 17 at a Freedom Salute Ceremony at the main auditorium at York College in Jamaica, N.Y.

WHEN:

3 p.m., Sunday, May 17, 2009

WHERE:

York College Main Auditorium, 94-22 Guy R Brewer Blvd, Jamaica, New York 11433

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 should contact First Sgt. Eduardo Martinez, (718) 736-4757. National Guard 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 a certificate of appreciation from the Army National Guard. The Soldier’s spouse/significant other will receive a lapel insignia while Soldier 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. The Soldiers of the 1st Battalion, 258th Field Artillery mobilized for deployment to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in January 2008. They were assigned to the Combined Joint Task Force Phoenix VII. They conducted missions at a number of Forward Operating Bases, or FOBs. They were assigned to train the Afghan National Army and the Afghan National Police, or they provided security for logistical convoys throughout the country.