Reporters are invited to speak with leaders and Soldiers of the 69th Infantry preparing to lead the St. Patrick's Day parade
Media Advisory
New York (03/14/2024) — Soldiers and senior leaders of the New York Army National Guard's 1st Battalion, 69th Infantry Regiment will rehearse their roles for leading the annual New York City St. Patrick's Day Parade.
The unit, known as "The Fighting 69th" will lead the world's largest St. Patrick's Day Parade at 11 a.m. on March 16, carrying on a tradition maintained for 173 years.
Who: Soldiers and senior leaders of the 1st Battalion, 69th Infantry Regiment
What: Rehearsing military color guard duties and roles at the head of hundreds of New York Army National Guardsmen leading the 2024 New York City St. Patrick's Day Parade
When: Friday, Mar. 15, 2024 - media availability from 9:00-10:00 a.m.
Where: Lexington Avenue Armory (69th Regimental Armory), 68 Lexington Avenue, New York, NY 10010
Media must RSVP to Maj. Avery Schneider (917-443-1864 / 27ibctpa@gmail.com) to coordinate access to the armory.
Since 1851, "The Fighting 69th" has been the lead unit in the parade marking Irish pride. The regiment was organized in 1849 as a New York State militia regiment made up of Irish immigrants.
Because of fears of anti-immigrant attacks against the traditional Irish Catholic parade, the 69th was asked to lead the parade to fend off attackers.
This will mark the 173rd time the 69th Infantry has led the parade.
"St. Patrick's Day is integral to the history of the 69th Infantry Regiment," said Lt. Col. Adam Bojarski, the battalion's commander. "It is with tremendous pride that we will continue this time- honored and unbroken tradition this year."
This year's event is also important because it marks the battalion's return from a deployment in 2003, Bojarski said.
More information is available at: https://www.dvidshub.net/news/466049/ny-national-guards-fighting-69th-leads-worlds-largest-st-patricks-day-parade
New York National Guard
Maj. Avery Schneider (917-443-1864 / 27ibctpa@gmail.com)Share this Story
Recent News
- NY National Guard Leader Retires after 33 Years
- NY Army National Guard Major Kimberly McCarty, a Monroe resident, takes command of Explosive Ordnance Disposal battalion
- Air Guard Lt. Col. Charles Longlois, a Mayfield resident, retires after 42 years of service
- Command Chief Master Sgt. Joseph Cohan, a Bethel resident, named senior enlisted leader for New York Air Guard's 105th Airlift Wing
- Slingerlands resident awarded Air and Space Commendation medal for actions while deployed in Iraq
- Air Guard Col. Kristopher Geis, a Newburgh resident, retires after 38 years of Service
- Army Guard Capt. Brian Gifford, a Guilderland resident, retires after 27 years of Army and Air Guard service
- 42 Infantry Division Band performs in Hudson Valley, Long Island, and New York City August 1 to August 9
- Cornwall resident, and West Point graduate, Matt Kilgore promoted to colonel in the New York Army National Guard
- Averill Park resident Ryan Brountas promoted to lieutenant colonel in the New York Army National Guard