New York Guard Remembers Its Fallen Soldiers Who Served in World War I

The New York Guard (State Defense Force), the New York City Department of Environment Protection (DEP) recently held a ceremony on May 1st to honor the 40 Soldiers of the New York Guard who died while serving during World War I. The memorial service was held at Sleepy Hollow Cemetery. The Honor Guard included Police Officers from the NYC DEP as well as volunteers from the Veteran Corps of Artillery of the State of New York (VCASNY).

During World War I the New York National Guard was deployed to Europe to fight in the Great War against the Axis Powers. Per State law the New York Guard assumed the National Guards stateside military responsibilities and missions. It was assigned multiple security missions throughout the state to ensure the safety and security of the State Infrastructure during a time of war. The New York Guard protected these key facilities throughout the war from multiple sabotage attempts from foreign agents.

Click Here To Read about The New York Guards Mission During World War I

The Veteran Corps of Artillery of the State of New York is a historic military command organization whos missions is to preserve the military heritage of the State of New York and to support military activities in the State of New York. The VCASNY mainly provides a Color Guard for special events, but have in the past assisted the State Military in emergency response missions such as September 11th 2001.

The 104th Annual First Provisional Regiment New York Guard Aqueduct Defense Memorial Service was held at the Sleepy Hollow Cemetery on May 1st, 2022.

The ceremony remembers the 40 Soldiers of the New York Guard First Provisional Regiment who died while serving New York during World War I, protecting the New York City Reservoir System. The New York Guard were the predecessors to the current NYC DEP, who protected the systems over one hundred years ago, the mission in which the NYC DEP continues to this day. (New York State Division of Military and Naval Affairs photos by New York Guard Captain Mark Getman and Sgt Richard Mayfield)