Christmas Eve Road March Returns to Glens Falls Friday to Honor Deployed Troops
MEDIA ADVISORY
GLENS FALLS, NY (12/23/2021) — Volunteers from across the New York National Guard will join military family members, community supporters and Gold Star Families for the return of the annual Christmas Eve road march December 24, 2021 here in Glens Falls, N.Y. to show support for military personnel serving overseas and those veterans no longer with us 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. The event was not held in 2020 due to COVID.
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, 2021.
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.
COVID Safety measures will require ALL attendees inside the Cool Insuring Arena to wear masks and sit in a socially distant manner during opening remarks prior to the road march. Once outside and walking, individuals may choose to wear a mask or not.
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.
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.
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 include Soldiers and vehicles from the 466th Area Medical Support Company and 1427th Transportation Company, both stationed at the Queensbury Readiness Center. They are routinely joined by Airmen from the 109th Airlift Wing from Scotia, N.Y., and the 42nd Infantry Division Headquarters, based in Troy, N.Y.
Media Attachments
New York Army National Guard Soldiers, walk together through Glens Falls, N.Y., Dec 24, 2018. The Soldiers were participating in Sgt. First Class(ret.) Arthur Coon's Christmas Eve Road March, to honor service members that couldn't be home for the holidays.
Volunteers Sean Leombruno, right, and Melanie Howard, left, hold the banner for the Christmas Eve Road March in Glens Falls, N.Y. as they lead the community to complete a four mile local march in support of deployed troops and past veterans December 24, 2019.
New York National Guard
Retired New York Army National Guard Sgt. 1st Class Art Coon, (518) 542-4726 or sfccoon@gmail.comShare this Story
Recent News
- Painting of Benedict Arnold as hero of Battle of Saratoga will be conserved for display in NY Military Museum by 2027.
- NY Air Guard's 174th Attack Wing Seeks Input for Hancock Field Air National Guard Base Community Involvement Plan
- NY Army National Guard Col. Jason Lefton, a Niskayuna resident, takes command of 5,100 Soldiers of the 53rd Troop Command
- New York Air National Guard gets new commander during January 9 ceremony at New York Air National Guard headquarters
- Col. Jason Lefton, an Iraq War veteran, assumes command of NY Army Guard's 53rd Troop Command on Sunday, Jan. 11
- New York Air National Guard gets a new commander during January 9 ceremony at New York National Guard headquarters
- NY Air Guard's 107th Attack Wing honors Millard Filmore during wreath laying ceremony in Forest Lawn Cemetery
- New York National Guard Honor Guard teams conducted 6,166 military funeral honors in 2025
- New York Army National Guard is tops in nation for recruiting in 2025
- Christmas Eve road march steps off in Glens Falls Wednesday to honor deployed troops