November 21, 2012
By Col. Richard Goldenberg, New York National Guard
NEW YORK (Nov. 20, 2012) — As Americans prepare for the Thanksgiving holiday, more than 1,100 members of the New York National Guard continue their support to recovery efforts following landfall of Hurricane Sandy or augment New York City law enforcement at transportation centers for the single largest travel day in the nation.
Nearly 900 Guard Soldiers continue to support recovery operations in New York City, conducting door to door wellness checks in Far Rockaway. The National Guard, working in partnership with local authorities, visited more than 850 residences to assess local needs.
Other Soldiers will assist in the delivery of holiday meals to storm-affected families at fourteen distribution centers as well as logistical support to city relief centers on Staten Island and Far Rockaway.
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo coordinated thousands of food items donated by Costco, Delta, ShopRite and Walmart to be packed and delivered by the National Guard Soldiers to impacted New Yorkers in New York City, Long Island and the Lower Hudson Valley on Nov. 21.
Cuomo visited the Five Towns Community Center in Lawrence, Nassau County and the Rockaway Point Fire Department in Breezy Point, Queens Nov. 21 to help distribute dinners.
“This Thanksgiving, we wanted to ensure that New Yorkers impacted by the storm can still celebrate the holiday with their loved ones,” Governor Cuomo said.
More than 250 other members of the New York National Guard’s standing security force in New York City, known as Joint Task Force Empire Shield, returned to their security duties this week after three weeks of rescue and storm recovery efforts.
The task force Soldiers and Airmen will rejoin New York Police Department, Port Authority of New York New Jersey Police and other law enforcement agencies in security arrangements aimed at protecting holiday travelers.
The New York National Guard members will be on duty at key transportation site, such as JFK airports, Grand Central Station and the Port Authority Bus Terminal.
New York has had National Guardsmen on duty full-time in New York City assisting with security since the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.