1st Battalion 69th Infantry Soldiers Heading for Afghanistan 

When:  Wednesday, January 16, 2008 12:00 pm

Where: Suffolk Community College, Sports & Exhibition Center, Crooked Hill Road, Brentwood, New York. 

Why: Over 500 people including families and friends will join with local dignitaries and special guests  to support Long Island members of the famed Fighting 69th [1st Battalion, 69th Infantry (Light), NY Army National Guard] at a formal ceremony as they are deployed to Afghanistan.  The LI members of the Fighting 69th will be part of a 700 Soldier Security Force built around the 2nd squadron 101st Cavalry, which will provide security for an international team of Soldiers and Police officers charged with providing training for the Afghan National Army and Police Force for a one-year period.  The soldiers begin Federal Active Duty on January 17, 2008 and will depart for Fort Bragg for approximately two months of training before deploying to Afghanistan.

See: This is a formal send-off ceremony, an emotionally moving and touching event which includes a recognition of our soldiers, squad demonstration of the capabilities of the Fighting 69th Infantry Division, as well as a moving invocation and addresses from such notables as: 

• LTC Charles T. Crosby, Commanding Officer 1/69th Infantry
• Lt. Lou Delli-Pizzi, LI Fighting 69th
• Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy
• Congressman Steve Israel
• Huntington Town Supervisor Frank Petrone
• Brookhaven Town Supervisor Brian Foley
• Islip Town Supervisor Phil Nolan
• MG {R}Anthony Kropp, USA/USAR

HISTORIC NOTE:

More than 6,000 members of the New York Army National Guard have been called to federal active duty for service mostly in Iraq or Afghanistan since 2003. Deployment levels peaked in 2004, when more than 3,500 troops assigned to nearly a dozen different units were on duty.  About 600 New York National Guard Soldiers are presently serving on active duty.