CONTACT: SFC Steven Petibone, 518-786-4581 or (on-site cell) 518-225-6649

FOR RELEASE: Saturday, Sep 12, 2009

WHO:

About 150 Soldiers and their family members from the 3rd Battalion 142nd Aviation Regiment (Assault Helicopter)

WHAT:

LOUDONVILLE, NY (09/10/2009)-- About 150 New York Army National Guard Soldiers of the 3rd Battalion 142nd Aviation Regiment (Assault Helicopter) will be honored for their service in 2008/2009 during a Freedom Salute Ceremony on Saturday at Sienna College. A ceremony in which Soldiers and families will receive awards for their combat service from the United States Army and the National Guard.

WHEN:

Saturday, September 12, 2009 at 10 a.m.

WHERE:

Marcelle Athletic Complex, Sienna College, 515 Loudon Road, Loudonville, New York

Coverage Opportunities: Members of the media will have an opportunity to speak with Soldiers and families about their experiences in Iraq and during the deployment. Visual opportunities will include the presentation of cased flags and other mementos to the Soldiers and their family members.

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 a certificate of appreciation from the Army National Guard. The Soldier's spouse/significant other will receive a lapel insignia, while the Soldiers' children 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. 3rd Battalion 142nd Aviation Regiment (Assault Helicopter) : The 3rd Battalion-142nd Aviation is an Assault Helicopter Battalion equipped with UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters with units based at McArthur Airport in Ronkonkoma and at Albany International Airport in Latham, New York. The Headquarters and Headquarters Company and Company B are based at McArthur Airport while Company E, the maintenance element, is located in Patchogue. Company A and Company D are located in Latham. The battalion's soldiers mobilized in May of 2008 for service in Iraq and deployed with 20 UH-60 Blackhawks to provide aviation transportation support for troops in Iraq. The Missouri National Guard's Co. C, 106th Aviation Regiment also deployed with the battalion, adding 100 troops and 10 helicopters to its strength. They returned to the United States in May of this year. During their ten months in Iraq, the men and women of the 142nd flew 15,000 hours, moved 47,745 troops, and transported 500 tons of cargo. The battalion was attached to the 34th Combat Aviation Brigade in the Baghdad area initially and was then moved to southern Iraq to provide support for the 10th Mountain which was replacing British troops in that region. "It was a total team effort every day to fly 6 to 7 hours flight missions, maintain the aircraft and conduct re-fueling operations, 'said Lt. Col. Albert Ricci, the battalion's commander. He also praised the battalion's rear detachment and Family Readiness Group volunteers for helping the battalion's families cope with the stresses of the deployment. Photo Cultine: UH-60s belonging to the 3rd Battalion 142nd Aviation on the flightline in Kuwait. Photo by 1st Lt. Michael Squires, 3-142nd Aviation.

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