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

FOR RELEASE: Tuesday, May 19, 2009

WHO:

Mr. Don Roy and members of the New York Military Forces Capitol Region Honor Guard

WHAT:

Capitol Region reporters and editors looking for a Memorial Day story are invited to meet with Mr. Don Roy, Director of the New York Military Forces Honor Guard Program and two of the Soldiers who serve on the Capitol Region honors team. The 125 members of the Honor Guard provide funeral honors for deceased veterans up to 800 times each month. These National Guard Soldiers honor deceased service members and their families every day, not just once a year. Opportunity for members of the media to meet with Military Forces Honor Guard members to discuss what the Honor Guard is, the extensive training the members go through to execute their duties, and how they feel about performing for hundreds of families each month as the veterans of World War II and the Korean War die. B-roll and still imagery of the Honor Guard in action will be available.

WHEN:

11 a.m., Tuesday, May 19 2009

WHERE:

Division of Military and Naval Affairs, 330 Old Niskayuna Road, Latham NY 12110

The New York Military Forces Honor Guard: Organized in 1999, the New York Military Forces Honor Guard provides funeral honors for New York Soldiers killed in action, and honorably discharged veterans and retired service members. The Honor Guard provides this service at no cost to families and funeral homes when teams are available. The 125 members of the Honor Guard are trained to the same standards as the members of the “Old Guard” which provide honors at Arlington National Cemetery. Fifty-five of the Honor Guard members are on full-time duty performing this service at nine detachment locations around the state while the other members serve when extra volunteers are needed. An Honor Guard team appeared on an episode of the television show “Law and Order.” The Honor Guard members pride themselves on their perfection. On average the Honor Guard performs 900 funeral services each month, mainly for veterans of World War II, said Don Roy, director of the Honor Guard. The Honor Guard has also performed funeral honors for the 31 New York Army National Guard Soldiers who have died in Afghanistan and Iraq. Members of the Military Forces Honor Guard have appeared on the TV program, “Law and Order, Special Victims Unit” conducting an honorable transfer of remains. “We are honored to take care of those we consider heroes,” Roy said. “Emotionally it can be hard and draining on the Honor Guard and the family.” Military Forces Honor Guard detachments are located in Watervliet, Bath, Binghamton, Buffalo, Glens Falls, Newburgh, New York City, Rochester, and Syracuse. Military Funeral Honors: Section 578 of Public Law 106-65 of the National Defense Authorization Act, enacted in 2000, mandates that the U.S. military must provide the rendering of U.S. military funeral honors for an eligible veteran if requested by the family. Under the law, an honor guard detail for the burial of an eligible veteran shall consist of not less than two members of the armed forces. One member of the detail shall be a representative of the parent armed service of the deceased veteran. The honor detail will, at a minimum, perform a ceremony that includes the folding and presenting of the American flag to the next of kin and the playing of "Taps". "Taps" will be played by a bugler, if available, or by electronic recording. Soldiers killed in action are entitled to full military honors, which consists of a 21 Soldier detachment to include a seven-member firing party, pall bearers, a color guard team, a bugler, and a chaplain and a general officer who will present the flag which covered the casket to the family of the deceased. Military retirees with 20 years of service and Soldiers who die on Active Duty are entitled to abbreviated honors in which nine Soldiers and a chaplain (when asked for) participate. Finally all veterans are entitled to a party of at least three Soldiers to perform abbreviated honors at their funeral. Photo Cutlines: 1233622017--090202-A-9270G-023 Members of the New York Army National Guard Military Forces Honor Guard render final honors to Sgt. Jonathan Keller at Calverton National Cemetery Feb. 2. Keller, a Citizen Soldier from Wading River, N.Y., had served in the Army National Guard's 1st Battalion, 69th Infantry Regiment and received full military honors during his funeral service. 080428-A-8880P-0084 Members of the New York Military Forces Honor Guard form afiring party during training for their mission of honoring veterans.

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