Press Release Index
CONTACT: Sgt. Jonathan Pietrantoni, 914-944-6523 or Eric Durr 518-786-4581
FOR RELEASE: Thursday, Feb 27, 2020

Camp Smith Opens Memorial Wall Honoring Fallen New York National Guard Members on Feb. 27

CAMP SMITH TRAINING SITE, NY (02/26/2020) (readMedia)-- The Camp Smith Training Site garrison will dedicate a memorial to New York National Guard Soldiers and Airmen who have died in combat since 2001 on Thursday, Feb. 27 at 5 p.m. Members of the press are welcome to cover the event.

WHO: Members of the Camp Smith garrison, Major General Ray Shields, the Adjutant General of New York, and families of fallen Soldiers.

WHAT: Dedication of a Fallen Heroes Memorial Wall in Building 508 at Camp Smith that displays metal lithograph photos of the 39 New York National Guard Soldiers and Airmen who have died in Iraq and Afghanistan since the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. The event will include remarks, an unveiling and showing for family members of fallen service members and then a reception.

WHEN: 4:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 27, 2020. (Event will take place at 5 p.m.)

WHERE: Camp Smith Training Site, 11 Bear Mountain Bridge Road, Cortlandt Manor, N.Y.

Members of the press wishing to cover this event must contact Sgt. Jonathan Pietrantoni at (914) 944-6523 for access to this secure military facility.

Coverage Opportunities:

Reporters will be able to speak with National Guard leaders about the significance of the event and obtain still and video images of the unveiling and ceremony.

BACKGROUND:

Camp Smith Training Site in Cortlandt is the New York State Division of Military and Naval Affairs'

premier training facility.

Camp Smith is used by the New York Army and AirNational Guard, the New York Guard,

the New York Naval Militia as well as by Army, Air Force and Marine Corps Reserve members, National Guard members from other states, and local, state and federal law enforcement agencies, and the United States Military Academy.

National Guard Soldiers have been training at Camp Smith since the 1880s.

"Because so many New York National Guard Soldiers and Airmen pass through Camp Smith during training, we felt this would be an appropriate place to remember the Soldiers and Airmen who've been called upon to make the ultimate sacrifice since the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. New members of the National Guard can learn about the sacrifices of those who went before them," explained Lt. Col. Robert Zizolfo the training center manager.

The new memorial wall replaces a temporary display of photographs which was initially erected in 2011.

The memorial will in Building 508 feature a picture of each Soldier or Airman, along with a brief narrative of their service mounted on wall painted with an American flag.

The dedication ceremony and remarks will take place in the Building 508 conference room. Because the area where the wall is being erected is relatively narrow there will be an initial showing for families of fallen service members first, followed by a general display.

New York National Guard Deaths in Iraq and Afghanistan:

• Captain Andreas B. O'Keeffe – Center Moriches, NY,106th Rescue Wing, Francis S. Gabreski Air National Guard Base, West Hampton Beach; NY, March 15, 2018,Iraq.

• Captain Christopher T. Zanetis - Long Island City, NY ,106th Rescue Wing, Francis S. Gabreski Air National Guard Base, West Hampton Beach; NY, March 15, 2018, Iraq.

• Master Sergeant Christopher J. Raguso – Commack, NY, 106th Rescue Wing, Francis S. Gabreski Air National Guard Base, West Hampton Beach; NY, March 15, 2018, Iraq.

• Staff Sergeant Dashan J. Briggs – Port Jefferson Station, NY, 106th Rescue Wing, Francis S. Gabreski Air National Guard Base, West Hampton Beach, NY; March 15, 2018, Iraq.

• Technical Sgt. Joseph G. Lemm – Bronx, NY; 105th Security Forces Squadron, Stewart Air National Guard Base, Newburgh, NY; Dec. 21, 2015, Afghanistan.

• Staff Sgt. Louis M. Bonacasa – Coram, NY, 105th Security Forces Squadron, Stewart Air National Guard Base, Newburgh, NY; Dec. 21, 2015., Afghanistan.

• Staff Sgt. Todd J. Lobraico, Jr. – New Fairfield, CT, 105th Security Forces Squadron, Stewart Air National Guard Base, Newburgh, NY; Sept. 5, 2013, Afghanistan.

• 1st LT Joseph J. Theinert – Sag Harbor, NY, 27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Syracuse NY assigned to 1st squadron, 71st Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry), Fort Drum, NY; June 4, 2010, Afghanistan.

• SGT Deon L. Taylor – Bronx, NY, 27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Syracuse, Ny; Oct. 22, 2008, Afghanistan.

• SPC Jason E. von Zerneck – Kew Gardens, NY, 2nd Squadron, 101st Cavalry Regiment, Jamestown, NY; Oct. 2, 2008, Afghanistan

• 1st LT Daniel Farkas – Brooklyn, NY, 27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Syracuse, NY; July 4, 2008, Afghanistan.

• SFC Joseph A. McKay – Brooklyn, NY, 2nd Squadron, 101st Cavalry Regiment (Reconnaissance, Surveillance and ,Target Acquisition), Jamestown, NY; June 26, 2008, Afghanistan.

• SGT Mark C. Palmateer – Poughkeepsie, NY, 2nd Squadron, 101st Cavalry Regiment (Reconnaissance, Surveillance and Target Acquisition), Jamestown, NY; June 26, 2008, Afghanistan.

• SGT Andrew Seabrooks – Queens, NY, 2nd Squadron, 101st Cavalary (Reconnaissance, Surveillance, and

• Target Acquisition), Geneva, NY; June 21, 2008, Afghanistan.

• SPC Anthony L Mangano – Greenlawn, NY2nd Squadron, 101st Cavalary (Reconnaissance, Surveillance, and Target Acquisition), Geneva, NY; June 21, 2008, Afghanistan.

• SGT Nelson D. Rodriguez- Ramirez - Revere, MA, 2nd Squadron, 101st Cavalary (Reconnaissance, Surveillance, and Target Acquisition), Geneva, NY; June 21, 2008, Afghanistan.

• SGT Denise A. Lannaman – Bayside, NY, 1569th Transportation Company, Newburgh, NY; Oct. 1, 2006, Iraq.

• PFC Benjamin C. Schuster – Williamsville, NY, 2nd Battalion, 101st Cavalry Regiment, Buffalo, NY; Feb. 25, 2006, Iraq.

• SGT Anthony N. Kalladeen – Purchase, NY, 1st Battalion, 69th Infantry Regiment, New York, NY; Aug, 8, 2005, Iraq.

• PFC Hernando Rios – Queens, NY, 1st Battalion, 69th Infantry Regiment, New York, NY; Aug. 8, 2005, Iraq.

• SGT Manny Hornedo – Brooklyn, NY,1569th Transportation Company, New York, NY; June 28, 2005, Iraq.

• CPT Phillip T. Esposito – Suffern, NY, HHC, 42nd Infantry Division, Troy, NY; June 8, 2005, Iraq.

• 1LT Louis E. Allen – Milford, PA, HHC, 42nd Infantry Division, Troy, NY; June 8, 2005, Iraq.

• SPC Azhar Ali – Flushing, NY, 1st Battalion, 69th Infantry Regiment, New York, NY ; March 2, 2005, Iraq.

• SPC Wai P. Lwin – Queens, NY, 1st Battalion, 69th Infantry Regiment, New York, NY; March 2, 2005, Iraq.

• PFC Francis C. Obaji – Queens Village, NY, 1st Battalion, 69th Infantry Regiment, New York, NY; January 17, 2005, Iraq.

• SPC Alain Kamolvathin – South Ozone Park, NY, 1st Battalion, 69th Infantry Regiment, New York, NY ; January 16, 2005, Iraq.

• SGT Kenneth G. VonRonn – Bloomingburg, NY ,1st Battalion, 69th Infantry Regiment, New York, NY; January 6, 2005, Iraq.

• SGT Joseph O. Behnke – Brooklyn, NY, 1st Battalion, 258th Field Artillery Regiment, Brooklyn, NY; Dec. 4, 2004, Iraq.

• SSG Henry E. Irizarry – Bronx, NY, 1st Battalion, 69th Infantry Regiment, New York, NY; Dec. 3, 2004, Iraq.

• SGT David M. Fisher – Green Island, NY ,1st Battalion, 101st Cavalry Regiment, Newburgh, NY; Dec. 1, 2004, Iraq.

• SSG Christian P. Engeldrum – Bronx, NY, 1st Battalion, 69th Infantry Regiment, New York, NY; Nov. 29, 2004, Iraq.

• SPC Wilfredo F. Urbina – Baldwin, NY, 1st Battalion, 69th Infantry Regiment, New York, NY; Nov. 29, 2004, Iraq.

• SGT David L. Roustum – West Seneca, NY,1st Battalion, 108th Infantry Regiment, Tonawanda, NY ; Nov. 20, 2004, Iraq.

• SPC Segun F. Akintade – Brooklyn, NY, 2nd Battalion, 108th Infantry Regiment, New York, NY; Oct. 28, 2004, Iraq.

• SGT Michael A.Uvanni – Rome, NY, 2nd Battalion, 108th Infantry, Morrisonville, NY; Oct. 1, 2004, Iraq.

• SPC Nathan P. Brown – South Glens Falls, NY, 2nd Battalion, 108th Infantry Regiment, Glens Falls, NY; April 11, 2004, Iraq.

• SPC Michael L. Williams – Buffalo, NY ,105th Military Police Company, Buffalo, NY; Oct. 17, 2003, Iraq.

• SGT Heath A. McMillin – Canandaigua, NY, 105th Military Police Company, Buffalo, NY; July 27, 2003, Iraq.

© NYS DMNA Press Release:Camp Smith Opens Memorial Wall Honoring Fallen New York National Guard Members on Feb. 27
URL: https://dmna.ny.gov/pressroom/?id=1582730696
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Page Last Modified: Feb 26, 2020