Outside it was bitter cold, but inside the New York State Armory in Whitestone the citizen soldiers of the National Guard’s 27th Financial Management Company got a warm welcome home after spending a year in Kuwait.
At the Freedom Salute Ceremony on Sunday, January 10 the officers and enlisted personnel, many with their families were congratulated by their commander, Brigadier General Michael C. Swezey, as well as State Senator Frank Padavan, Assemblymember Rory Lancman and City Councilmember Dan Halloran.
At the ceremony, in the former Navy Militia Base at 150-74 6th Avenue, the returning Guard members each received a cased American Flag, lapel pin, commemorative coin and certificate of appreciation from the Army National Guard, along with other gifts in recognition of extraordinary service.
In addition, they were presented with certificates of merit from Padavan and a retired Colonel of Combat Engineers, and citations from Halloran.
Lancman, who served as an Army Lieutenant from 1988 to 1992 praised them, saying that during his service, he learned that an officer’s most important duty to those under his command was “To get them fed and get them paid.”
The returnees accepted the praise heaped upon them with grace and modesty, typified by Captain Samsul Alam, who thanked the dignitaries and even the media for “all you do,” including attending their ceremony. “I’ll remember for a long time,” he smiled.
Following the ceremony and awards, there was, appropriately, a spread of hot food, coffee, cake, cookies and soda.
