105th Airlift Wing Conducts Ramp Ceremony Today as remains for Tech Sgt. Joseph Lemm are returned

STEWART AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, NEWBURGH. NY (12/28/2015)(readMedia)-- The New York Air National Guard's 105th Airlift Wing will conduct a ramp ceremony to honor Tech Sgt. Joseph Lemm, who was killed in action in Afghanistan on Dec. 21, on Monday, Dec. 28 at 3 p.m.

Ramp ceremonies are held by military units to honor service members when their remains depart or arrive at a location.

WHO: Members and retired members of the 105th Airlift Wing and members of the New York Police Department, along with members of the Lemm family.

WHAT: A ramp ceremony in which the body of Tech Sgt. Joseph Lemm will return to Stewart Air National Guard Base from Dover Air Force Base aboard a 105th Airlift Wing C-17. Airmen will be present in a mass formation to honor Tech Sgt. Lemm. Col. Timothy LaBarge, the commander of the 105th Airlift Wing will speak. His body will then be escorted by a New York Police Department team since Lemm was a Detective with the New York Police Department.

WHEN: Members of the press must be at the base No Later than 2 p.m.

Reporters must contact Tech Sgt. Sara Pastorello at 845-563-2075 no later than noon today for access to this secure military facility.

WHERE: Main Hangar, Stewart Air National Guard Base, Newburgh, N.Y.

Coverage Opportunities:

Video of the ceremony and the dignified transfer of remains. There will be opportunities to interview base representatives.

Media Ground Rules:

Reporters wishing to attend the event must call Tech Sgt. Sara Pastorello prior to noon and must provide e-mail address ( to allow for updated time and place information if necessary) along with names of representatives. Press representatives must sign Department of Defense dignified transfer ground rules when they arrive at the base. For more information contact the 105th Public Affairs office at 845-563-2075

BACKGROUND

Tech Sgt. Joseph Lemm

Tech Sgt. Tech Sgt. Joseph G. Lemm, a member of the 105th Base Security Squadron died on Dec. 21 when a suicide bomber attacked his patrol in a village outside Bagram Air Base in Parwan Province.

Staff Sgt. Louis Bonacasa, another member of the 105th Base Security Squadron and four other Air Force members also died in the attack.

Lemm, age 45, was a resident of West Harrison, N.Y. and enlisted in the 105th Airlift Wing in 2008, serving his entire time with the 105th Base Defense Squadron as a security force member. He had previously served in the military from 1988 to 1996.

His prior deployment experience included missions to Afghanistan from January to June 2013 and to Iraq from June to December 2011.

A wake to honor Tech Sgt. Lemm will be held on Tuesday, Dec. 29 at Saint Anthony of Padua Church, located at 85 Harrison St., West Harrison, between 2 and 5 p.m. And 7 and 9 p.m.

Funeral Services for Tech Sgt. Lemm will be held at Saint Patrick's Cathedral at 10 a.m. On Wednesday, Dec. 30 at 14 E. 51st Street, New York.

Burial will be at Gates of Heaven Cemetery in Hawthorne, at 10 West Stevens Ave. following the funeral.

Staff Sgt Louis Bonacasa

Bonacasa, age 31, was a resident of Coram, N.Y. He enlisted in the active Air Force in 2002 and transitioned to the New York Air National Guard's 106th Security Forces Squadron, at F.S. Gabreski Air National Guard Base in Westhampton Beach, N.Y. in 2008. He joined the 105th Base Defense Squadron in 2010.

He deployed to Afghanistan from January to June 2013, and to Iraq from June to December 2011.

Information on a time and place for the return of his remains and funeral services will be announced later.