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Governor George E. Pataki was in
Utica
today at the
Army
Reserve
Center
. Governor Pataki visited with US Army Reservists from the 414th Civil
Affairs Battalion who have served in
Iraq
as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom and in
Afghanistan
as part of Operation Enduring Freedom. The Governor thanked members
of the 414th for their service to the State and nation and renewed his
call for passage of Patriot Plan II legislation, which would provide
members of the Reserves and the National Guard with a new set of benefits
and protections while they are serving on active duty in the War on
Terror.
Gov. Pataki also spoke about the
‘Patriot Plan’ which provides a comprehensive package of benefits and
protections for deployed New York National Guard and Reserve troops, and
the expanded plan, the ‘Patriot Plan II’ announced earlier this year.
Pataki was joined by Sen. Ray
Meier, Assemblyman Dave Townsend,
County Executive
Joe Griffo, Utica Mayor Tim Julian and Rome Mayor Jim Brown.
Oneida
County Executive
Joseph A. Griffo said, “From the Battle of Oriskany to Operations Iraqi
Freedom and Enduring Freedom, the citizen-soldiers of the
Mohawk
Valley
has served the cause of freedom with dedication and pride. Governor
Pataki’s Patriot Plan II justly provides protection to the families of
the heroic men and women who are protecting the cause of freedom around
the world. On behalf of the reservists of the 414th Civil
Affairs Battalion and all the citizen-soldiers of
Oneida
County
, I thank the Governor for his dedication to the reservists and National
Guard members.”
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