CONTACT:

FOR RELEASE: Friday, May 29, 2009

WHO:

Maj. Sean Michael Flynn, Iraq combat veteran and author of "The Fighting 69th."

WHAT:

LATHAM, NY (05/29/2009)-- Members of the New York Army National Guard's 42nd Infantry Division will help support the grand opening of the Irish Heritage Museum latest exhibit, the "Irish in Military Service." Maj. Sean Flynn will speak at the grand opening at the East Durham museum about his experiences as an Irish American serving with the New York Army National Guard's 1st Battalion, 69th Infantry, the Army's famous "Fighting 69th." New York Army National Guard combat veteran reflects on his Irish American roots during the grand opening of the Irish Heritage Museum exhibit, "Irish in Military Service."

WHEN:

Two o'clock, Saturday, May 30, 2009.

WHERE:

Irish Heritage Museum, 2267 Route 145, East Durham, N.Y. 12423

"This exhibit will have something for people interested in any period of history, from medieval times to current events," said the Museum's Research and Grants Director, Will Raup. "While we do focus a lot on historic events, we also wanted to be one of the first Museums to help chronicle and preserve the stories and honor of our most recent veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan." Flynn authored a book about the 69th Infantry's transformation from a part-time military organization to a full-fledged operational force supporting the City of New York in the immediate aftermath of the September 11, 2001 terror attacks and later the Army's homeland security missions in the U.S. and combat operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. He served as a rifle company commander with the 69th Infantry in Iraq in 2004-05. The 69th Infantry, based in New York City at 68 Lexington Avenue, has been famous for its cultural ties to New York's Irish immigrant population. Fighting gallantly in the Civil War, the unit drew its nickname from Confederate General Robert E. Lee. The organization went on to add further history to its lineage when it mobilized and deployed in World War I as part of the newly formed 42nd Infantry (Rainbow) Division for service in France from 1917-1919. The unit again deployed for combat action in the Pacific in World War II and has been extensively called upon for support to the state and nation since the terror attacks of 2001. The regiment's famous WWI chaplain, Father Francis Duffy, once commented on the Irish nature of the unit by stating that all of its members, from across New York, were "Irish by adoption, Irish by association, or Irish by conviction." That sense of Irish tradition has continued with the unit for more than 150 years. The unit continues to lead New York City's Saint Patrick's Day parade up Fifth Avenue as it has since 1851. The Exhibit focuses more on the human aspect of these conflicts, looking at the men and women of Irish descent and the role they played in each conflict. As part of this exhibit, the Museum is looking for veterans, their friends or descendants to aid the exhibit by contributing to our "Irish in Military Service" history project, where the Museum hopes to collect the stories of Irish-American veterans for future generations. For more information on the project, contact the Museum at (518) 432-6598. "Irish in Military Service" opened to the public on Saturday, May 23 for Memorial Day weekend at the Irish American Heritage Museum Exhibit Center, Rt. 145, East Durham, Greene County, New York. Hours will be Wednesday through Sunday, 12pm to 4pm through Labor Day, Sept. 7.

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