Christmas Eve Road March in Glens Falls Honors Deployed Troops, Veterans

MEDIA ADVISORY

GLENS FALLS, NY (12/23/2019) — Volunteers from across the New York National Guard joined more than a thousand military family members, community supporters and Gold Star Families for the annual Christmas Eve road march December 24, 2019 here in Glens Falls, N.Y. to show their support for military personnel serving overseas during the holidays.

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, were deployed in Iraq.

WHAT: The annual Christmas Eve Road March to honor military personnel

WHO: Retired New York Army National Guard Sgt. 1st Class Art Coon, his wife Julie, and hundreds of volunteers marchers join with veterans and military members.

WHERE: Cool Insuring Arena, 1 Civic Center Plaza, Glens Falls, NY 12801

WHEN: 9 a.m., Christmas Eve, Tuesday, December 24, 2019.

Media Opportunity: Interviews with Art and Julie Coon, volunteers, Soldiers and Airmen who participate in the road march. The march starts and finishes at the Cool Insuring Arena.

BACKGROUND

A local recruiter, Sgt. 1st Class Arthur Coon, and his wife Julie, coordinated for other Soldiers assigned to the armory in Glens Falls, the 466th Area Support Medical Company, to conduct a road march in their honor.

Ten Soldiers participated in the first ever event, and it has grown into the thousands ever since.

"Of all the miles you will walk this year, I'd say that these four at the road march will be among the most important," Coon said. "These four miles aren't about you, or I, they are about those who are serving far from home...or those who have gone before us...or just in the memory of those no longer with us."

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.

"I carry dog tags representing the five Soldiers I have lost, and while some days the weight of those is heavy-most days it helps see me through and accomplish missions such as the road march," Coon said. "I do many things in their honor, not seeking their approval, but seeking to justify how blessed of a life I have been given."

The effort also encourages donations for care packages to be shipped to troops overseas and provides participants with awards for key contributors.

The road march recognized the largest group, heaviest ruck for both male and female marchers, largest family and largest donation for care packages, Coon said.

Supporting area units of the New York National Guard that regularly participate included Soldiers and vehicles from the 466th Area Medical Support Company and 1427th Transportation Company, both stationed at the Queensbury Readiness Center. They were joined by Airmen from the 109th Airlift Wing from Scotia, N.Y., and the 42nd Infantry Division Headquarters, based in Troy, N.Y.

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