Fayetteville High School Student Helps New York National Guard Salute Army's 251st Birthday
Pvt London Brown symbolizes the future of the Army during a birthday cake-cutting ceremony at New York National Guard headquarters on June 12
LATHAM, New York (06/12/2026) — A 17-year-old Fayetteville Manlius High School junior helped the New York National Guard mark the Army's 251st birthday during a ceremony at New York National Guard headquarters in Latham on Friday, June 12.
London Brown, a Fayetteville resident who enlisted in the Army National Guard in April, was part of a ceremony in which an old Soldier and young Soldier join forces to cut the Army's birthday cake.
The old Soldier - in this case 60-year-old Chief Warrant Officer 5 William Solmo from Brooklyn-represents the history of the Army. The young Soldier, Pvt. London Brown, represents the future of the Army.
Brown, who will serve in the New York Army Guard's 206th Military Police Company as a combat medic, said he was "very excited" to be part of the ceremony.
"I don't want to say it's an honor. But it is an honor,' said Brown.
Brown will be attending basic training between this summer and then go onto advanced individual training after he graduates high school in 2027.
He decided to enlist in the Army National Guard because he wants to be first responder-a police officer or an emergency medical technician, Brown explained.
By joining the Army National Guard, he can get training in the military and experience that will help him achieve that goal, he said.
"It was just kind of obvious that I should do it," he said.
This was the second year that Solmo represented the oldest Soldier in the New York Army National Guard
Solmo, who is the top-ranking warrant officer in the New York Army Guard, said it was "a fabulous opportunity" to cut the cake for the Army's birthday once again while representing the Army's past.
The Brooklyn resident, who enlisted in 1986, joked that he was not the oldest Soldier in the New York Army National Guard, but he was representing the oldest Soldiers.
In his remarks, Brig. Gen. Patrick Clare, the director of joint staff and presiding officer at the event, pointed out that Solmo has served for 15 percent of the Army's 251-year history.
Solmo, he said, saw the Berlin Wall come down, responded when the Twin Towers fell in Manhattan on Sept. 11, 2001, and was part of the 69th Infantry Regiment's fight to keep Route Irish open in Baghdad, in 2005.
"Chief, thank you for your tremendous service for 40 years," Clare told Solmo.
Brown, meanwhile, was embarking on his own "history making service in the Army," Clare said.
"Thank you for stepping up to put country before yourself and to do your part in continuing the history of the United States Army and the New York Army National Guard," he told Brown.
"No matter how long you decide to serve, you can be proud of that service. Because what you have decided to do matters," Clare added.
The Army claims June 14, 1775, as its birthday. On that day the Second Continental Congress voted to recruit ten regiments of riflemen to join the army of New Englanders besieging the British garrison in Boston.
The 830 Soldiers who were to fill those 10 regiments were the first troops recruited for a national Army, not a colonial militia or in an English provincial regiment, said Lt. Col. Charles Ackley, the master of ceremonies for the birthday event.
In his remarks, Clare said that the Army is not a glamorous service, but it is a vital one.
In its 251 years the U.S. Army won American independence, preserved the Union and ended slavery in the Civil War, defeated Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan, and held the line against communism during the Cold War.
Currently, seven hundred New York Army National Guard Soldiers out of a total strength of 12,037 are serving on federal active duty.
Another 3,000 Army National Guard Soldiers are currently serving on State Active Duty missions supporting the New York State prison system or in Joint Task Force Empire Shield, the National Guard security force in New York City.
Media Attachments
Brig. Gen. Patrick Clare the director of joint staff for the New York National Guard looks on as Chief Warrant Officer 5 William Solmo the oldest Soldier present joins Pvt. London Brown at age 17 the youngest Soldier present in cutting the Army birthday cake during a ceremony at New York National Guard headquarters in Latham N.Y. on June 12 2026. The ceremony recognized the Armys 251st birthday which will be on June 14 2026. Solmo represented the history and past of the Army while Brown who enlisted in April represents its future. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Lt. Col. Jean Marie Kratzer)
New York National Guard
Lt. Col. Jean Kratzer, 518-786-4581Share this Story
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