LATHAM - New York State Adjutant General Maj. Gen. Patrick Murphy has awarded more than 4,000 members of the New York National Guard the New York State Humane Service Medal to recognize their service during New York's response to Tropical Storm Irene.
The award recognizes service in response to members of New York's Organized Militia who distinguished themselves by sustained meritorious service in a humane operation as a result of a natural disaster, such as floods, snow storms, hurricanes, tornados, and acts of mercy during State Active Duty service at the direction of the governor.
Receiving the award locally were the following soldiers, listed by town of residence:
Dunkirk
New York Army National Guard Spc. Joel Ortiz, a member of the 105th Military Police Company;
New York Army National Guard Private 1st Class Ashley Kuc, a member of the Company A, 642nd Military Support Battalion;
New York Army National Guard Private Luis Fred, a member of the Company A, 642nd Military Support Battalion;
New York Army National Guard Sgt. Steven Lawrie, a member of the Company A, 642nd Military Support Battalion;
New York Army National Guard Sgt. Ralph Ward, a member of the Company A, 642nd Military Support Battalion;
New York Army National Guard Spc. Matthew Goodwin, a member of the Company A, 642nd Military Support Battalion;
New York Army National Guard Staff Sgt. Angela Miranda, a member of the Company A, 642nd Military Support Battalion;
New York Army National Guard 2nd Lt. Joseph Carruth, a member of the Company A, 642nd Support Battalion;
New York Army National Guard Spc. George Skelly, a member of the Company A, 642nd Support Battalion;
New York Army National Guard Sgt. 1st Class Robert Trzaska, a member of the Headquarters and Headquarters Troop, 2-101 Cavalry (Reconnaissance, Surveillance and Target Acquisition);
New York Army National Guard Spc. Kenneth Mosier, a member of the Troop B, 2-101 Cavalry (Reconnaissance, Surveillance and Target Acquisition);
Forestville
New York Army National Guard Private Cherish Richmond, a member of the Company A, 642nd Support Battalion;
New York Army National Guard Spc. Benjamin Richmond, a member of the Company A, 642nd Support Battalion;
Fredonia
New York Air National Guard Airman 1st Class Jacob Sternisha, a member of the 107th Maintenance Squadron, 107th Airlift Wing;
New York Army National Guard Private 1st Class Keith Muniz, a member of the Company A, 642nd Military Support Battalion;
New York Army National Guard Spc. Chad Danler, a member of the Company A, 642nd Military Support Battalion;
New York Army National Guard Sgt. Heather Lemanski, a member of the Company A, 642nd Support Battalion;
New York Army National Guard Spc. Amanda Sleasman, a member of the Company A, 642nd Support Battalion;
New York Army National Guard Sgt. Richard Aanerud, a member of the Headquarters and Service Company, 642nd Support Battalion;
Silver Creek
New York Army National Guard Sgt. Arron Inwood, a member of the Troop B, 2-101 Cavalry (Reconnaissance, Surveillance and Target Acquisition);
South Dayton
New York Army National Guard Sgt. Gregory Keefe, a member of the Company A, 642nd Military Support Battalion;
New York Army National Guard Sgt. Brian Lucas, a member of the Company A, 642nd Military Support Battalion;
New York Army National Guard Spc. Caressa Fox, a member of the Company D (Forward Support Company, Reconnaissance, Surveillance and Target Acquisition), 427th Brigade Support Battalion;
New York Army National Guard Spc. Randy Spencer, a member of the Company D (Forward Support Company, Reconnaissance, Surveillance and Target Acquisition), 427th Brigade Support Battalion;
New York Army National Guard Spc. Ronda Woodarek, a member of the Headquarters and Service Company, 642nd Support Battalion;
Brocton
New York Army National Guard Spc. Charles Skelly, a member of the Company A, 642nd Military Support Battalion;
Cherry Creek
New York Army National Guard Spc. Allen Carlson, a member of the Company A, 642nd Military Support Battalion;
Sinclairville
New York Army National Guard Private 1st Class Zachary Moore, a member of the Troop B, 2-101 Cavalry (Reconnaissance, Surveillance and Target Acquisition);
Stockton
New York Army National Guard Spc. Jonathon Johnson, a member of the 152nd Engineer Support Company;
Westfield
New York Army National Guard Staff Sgt. Wayne Abbey, a member of the Company A, 642nd Military Support Battalion;
Gowanda
New York Army National Guard Sgt. John West, a member of the 105th Military Police Company;
The New York National Guard responded when Governor Andrew Cuomo activated the New York Army and Air National Guard and other components of the New York Military Forces when Hurricane Irene threatened the state on Aug. 28.
Cuomo mobilized more than 2,500 members of the National Guard in advance of Hurricane Irene's arrival in New York on Aug. 27. Since then, more than 1,500 additional troops mobilized in response to the landfall and aftermath of Hurricane Irene, which caused flooding, destruction and disarray in many upstate New York counties.
National Guard members were significant parts of recovery missions in Essex, Scoharie, Delaware and Greene Counties, with an emphasis on supporting devastated communities like in Prattsville, Margaretville and Keene.
