GLENS FALLS, N.Y. - New York Army National Guard Soldiers from the Queensbury Readiness Center will join dozens of military family members and hundreds of friends for the 12th annual Christmas Eve-morning three mile road march to show support for military men and women serving in Afghanistan and locations around the world.
WHO: New York Army National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Queensbury Readiness Center, and other units in the greater capital region, their family members, veterans and friends. More than 500 marchers are expected.
WHAT: A 3.2 mile road march to honor fellow Soldiers who are away from family and friends, serving their country, and often in harm's way, on Christmas.
WHEN: 9 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 24, Christmas Eve, 2015.
WHERE: Glens Falls Civic Center, 1 Civic Center Plaza, Glens Falls, New York. The march will start and finish at the Civic Center.
For additional information about the course or to register, contact retired Army National Guard Sgt. 1st Class Arthur Coon at 518-542-4726.
Coverage Opportunities:
Imagery of Soldiers, many in uniform, along with family members and veterans marching from the Glens Falls Civic Center and along the shoulder of the road and back to downtown Glens Falls. There will be opportunities for interviews with participants about the meaning of the march, which has become an annual event.
Background:
The Christmas Eve Road March was first conducted in 2004 when Soldiers of the New York Army National Guard's Company C, 2nd Battalion 108th Infantry, which was then based at the now-closed Glens Falls Armory, were away from home in Iraq over Christmas. Other Soldiers assigned to the armory, from the 466th Area Medical Company, got together to conduct a road march, the military term for a walking movement, in their honor.
Since then, the march has become a tradition to recognize the sacrifices being made by all American service men and women who are on-duty away from their families during the Christmas season.
"Since this is our 12th annual event, it means we have marched about 50 miles (roughly four miles each year times 12 years), which seems like a pretty decent milestone," said organizer and retired New York Army National Guard Sgt. 1st Class Art Coon. "We will have the same awards: Largest care package donation, furthest traveler, heaviest backpack, largest group, largest family, and will collect not only items to ship to deployed soldiers but will pass a combat boot to receive postage donations."
Supporting area units of the New York National Guard that are regularly present include the 466th Area Support Medical Company and 1427th Transportation Company, both stationed at the Queensbury Readiness Center, along with Airmen from the 109th Airlift Wing from Scotia, New York.
The march is sponsored, in part, by the Capital District of New York Chapter of the Association of the U.S. Army.
The march will occur in downtown Glens Falls, where the Glens Falls Police Department is coordinating the road march route with the New York National Guard's Family Readiness Group.
| Date Taken: |
12.23.2015 |
| Date Posted: |
12.23.2015 14:15 |
| Story ID: |
185280 |
| Location: |
GLENS FALLS, NEW YORK, US |
| Web Views: |
60 |
| Downloads: |
0 |
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