Military Museum hosts ceremony honoring Korean War Veteran and Ballston Spa resident Imbarrato on Saturday, Oct. 28

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SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. (10/27/2017) — The New York State Military Museum hosts the presentation of the 2017 Veteran of the Year Ceremony on Saturday, October 28 at 1 p.m. honoring Ballston Spa resident and Korean War veteran Phil Imbarrato.

The annual award is co-sponsored by the Friends of the New York State Military Museum and the Capital District of New York Chapter of the Association of the U.S. Army. Presenting will be the presidents of each organization, Congressman Paul Tonko, Congressman John Faso and Congresswoman Elise Stefanik.

New York Army National Guard Brig. Gen. Michel Natali, commander of the 53rd Troop Command, will also provide remarks.

The public is welcome to attend and join with area veteran organizations to honor Imbarrato.

Philip Imbarrato served in the Korean War in 1953 with the 6th Tank Battalion, 24th Infantry Division near Puson, South Korea. Upon leaving Korea in 1953, he was posted to Mount Fuji Army Base, Japan, where he served until his discharge in January 1955 as a corporal. For his service, he was awarded the National Defense Service Medal, The United Nations Korean Service Medal, the United States Korean Service Medal and the Republic of Korea War Service Medal.

Phil returned to the City College of New York after his discharge and earned a Bachelor's degree in Sales Management in 1957. He entered the retail sales field as a salesman and independent sales representative for several different office furniture companies until his retirement in 1999.

Throughout his working career and into retirement he has been a long time member of the Ballston Spa Lions Club, including serving as president in 1983. He also has the distinction as one of the longest serving docents at the New York State Military Museum and can be seen faithfully at his post every Thursday morning. He began volunteering as a docent in 2006.

Phil was married when he was drafted in 1951. He and his wife Dolores, who passed in 2005, have three sons and four grandchildren.

The New York State Military Museum and Veterans Research Center is housed in the historic New York State Armory in Saratoga Springs. The mission of the museum and research center is to preserve, interpret and disseminate the story, history and records of New York State's military forces and veterans. The collection is divided into the museum and the library/archives holdings.

The museum has permanent exhibits telling the story of New York's men and women in the Civil War, World War I, World War II, the Revolutionary War and as members of the state militia in the 19th Century. The museum has more than 10,000 artifacts ranging from the Revolutionary War to the Wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The New York State Military Museum is also responsible for the historical exhibits and artifacts at New York's Army National Guard armories. These artifacts and displays, which include historic armored vehicles once used by the Guard, connect current Army National Guard Soldiers with those who served in the past.

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