New York Honours Fallen Soldiers

Paterson Orders Flags to Half-Staff to Honour Fallen Soldiers
Gov. David Paterson has ordered flags on state buildings across New York flown at half-staff to honour soldiers from New York who are killed in combat in Iraq and Afghanistan.

A spokesman for the governor says the new policy began Wednesday when the flag was lowered for three Fort Drum soldiers killed in Iraq on June 4 near Sharqat. On Monday, flags will be lowered again for Staff Sgt. Tyler Pickett, who was killed in action in Kirkuk Province in Iraq on June 8.

Although the four dead soldiers were from other states, they were all assigned to the 10th Mountain Division and stationed at Fort Drum in northern New York. Spokesman Morgan Hook says Paterson believes even if a soldier is from another state, if they are serving with a New York-based unit, that makes them a New Yorker.

Gov. David Paterson has directed that flags on New York state government buildings be flown at half-staff Wednesday in honour of SPC. Jason M. Johnston, who became Albion’s first casualty of war Saturday.

Johnston, 24, was killed while serving in Arghandab, Afghanistan. A Department of Defense official confirmed Johnston’s death, stating that he died of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device.

“All New Yorkers mourn the death of this brave young soldier,” Paterson said. “We join with the family, friends and fellow soldiers of Specialist Johnston in grieving his death. But we also join with them in honoring his patriotism and dedication to his mission and to our nation.”

Johnston was assigned to the second Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, fourth Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, N.C.

ATT Keeps US Soldiers Connected with Loved Ones

AT&T ASSISTS TEENAGERS WITH "CELL PHONES FOR SOLDIERS CAMPAIGN"

Steve Hodges, AT&T's Regional President for the Northeast

in New York with co-founders of Cell Phones for Soldiers,

Brittany and Robbie Bergquist.

Two teenagers 16 YEAR OLD Britanny Bergquist and her 15 year old brother Robbie from Massachusetts have enlisted the help of AT&T with their national Cell Phones for Soldiers program. It uses funds from recycled cell phones to buy prepaid phone cards for active duty military members – to help connect them with their families.
The non-profit initiative was established in 2004 to help U.S. military members serving overseas stay connected with their families.

Through generous donations and the recycling of used cell phones from drop-off sites across the country, Cell Phones for Soldiers has already raised more than $1 million and distributed more than 75 thousand phone cards to soldiers overseas.

U.S. soldiers receive free calling coupons

compliments of AT&T

U.S. soldiers connect with loved ones at home

In support of these young visionaries – and the many military families they support – AT&T has donated 10,000 prepaid phone cards to the nonprofit organization, so they can send more cards to military members.
Additionally, AT&T will offer select store locations across the country as drop-off sites to help recycle used cell phones for the program by summer of 2007.
By July 4th all AT&T wireless stores nationwide will be collecting phones for recycling. The initial rollout began today in the Northeast starting in Boston, New York, Washington, D.C. and Philadelphia.
A long-standing mission of AT&T is helping connect military families.

" A great big HUA goes out to

Brittany and Robbie Bergquist and AT&T

for bringing troops and families together! "

What a great cause! Donate all your old cell phones and

help our soldiers connect with families.

For further information: AT&T assists soldiers and Cell Phones for Soldiers

Military Mom would also like to send a personal thank you to Laura Knapp.