Averill Park resident takes command of Naval Militia

COLONIE — Rear Admiral Michael Perry of Averill Park has assumed command of the 3,100 member New York State Naval Militia during a ceremony at New York National Guard Headquarters in Latham. Perry succeeds Rear Admiral Lawrence Weill, who took command of the Naval Militia in April 2022.

Maj. Gen. Ray Shields, state adjutant general, presided over the ceremony, and thanked Weill, a resident of Walworth, for his service.

The traditional naval change-of-command ceremony featured bells being rung to signal the rank of the officer, and whistles welcoming them onboard a notional ship. 

The New York Naval Militia is the largest of the six state naval forces in existence. It was created in 1891 as the seagoing equivalent of the New York National Guard in the days before the creation of the Navy Reserve. Today, the force is composed mostly of members of the Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard Reserve who agree to serve in the state force while simultaneously serving in their federal reserve capacity. 

Militia members go on state active duty to put their military skills to work for the people of New York. They have responded to snowstorms, hurricanes, the pandemic and currently more than 400 members are assisting in response to the migrant surge in New York City. The New York Naval Militia also operates a fleet of 11 patrol boats, which work with local, state and federal agencies to provide security along New York’s 2,625 miles of coastline.

Perry received a direct commission into the Supply Corps of the Navy Reserve as an ensign in 1991 and joined the New York Naval Militia that year. While serving in the Navy Reserve, Perry held jobs as the executive officer for a Navy cargo handling battalion, commanding officer of a supply management team; the commander of two fleet industrial supply detachments; and commander of the Navy Reserve Defense Contract Management Agency, Boston. He also served as commander of the Naval Reserve Sealift Command, Supply Chain Support unit in Norfolk, Va.

His active duty assignments included director of the Joint Movement Center for U.S. Navy Central Command; Joint Reserve Force commander and Mobilization assistant to the director of the Defense Contract Management Agency; and commercial industry branch chief for United States Transportation Command.

In civilian life, Perry worked for the Thruway Authority and retired in 2016. He retired from the Navy Reserve in 2019. A Seabee combat warfare, Navy expeditionary combat warfare, and major command qualified officer, Perry earned a Defense Superior Service Medal, a Joint Service Commendation Medal and a Navy-Marine Corps Commendation Medal. He also earned a Defense of Liberty Medal with WTC device for service at ground zero and a New York State Meritorious Service Medal.

Tully Rinckey PLLC and Price Chopper/Market 32 will provide 200 free turkeys to active duty and retired military personnel from 11:45 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday at Raymour & Flanigan parking lot at 1960 Central Ave., Colonie. Tully Rinckey representatives will hand out more than 2,800 pounds during their annual “Turkeys for Veterans initiative on a first come, first-served basis with proof on military ID. Limit is one per person. The law firm employs 70 attorneys, including Army, Air Force, Marine and Navy veterans.

      Volunteers have encouraged sponsors for more than 10,000 Wreaths Across America holiday wreaths to be placed on the graves at the Gerald B.H. Solomon Saratoga National Cemetery in Schuylerville.
       “As of today, we are at 64 percent of our goal to reach 16,000 wreaths needed for placed on all the graces,” said Bill Schaaf, a project volunteer and state captain of Eastern New York Patriot Guard Riders.  “We’ll need another 5,866 wreaths to reach our goal to place a wreath on every veteran’s gravesite.”
      The wreath laying will take place beginning at 11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 16. A ceremony will begin at noon at the cemetery’s flag pole.
      To make an internet order,  visit wreathsacrossamerica.org/NY0057. Entering this link will get you to ordering wreaths and appropriately crediting the Patriot Guard Riders of Eastern New York.  For every two wreaths ordered at $17 each via Patriot Guard Riders, Wreaths Across America will donate an additional one.     
     For information, contact Bill Schaaf at billshaaf@aol.com or 518-542-0608.

A Veterans in Economic Transition Conference that helps disabled veteran-owned businesses obtain state contracts will be held Nov. 28 and 29 at the Crowne Plaza Desmond Hotel.

VETCON is an annual conference dedicated to the education and professional growth of veteran business owners and entrepreneurs by providing seminars, workshops and networking opportunities, including a forum for New York State Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Businesses, to connect with state agencies and authorities and develop business opportunities through state  contracts.

“The brave men and women who have served this country deserve to be acknowledged,” said Anthony Kuhn, chairman of the VETCON Alliance and a founding partner of SDVOB Tully Rinckey Kuhn PLLC. “VETCON helps veterans strengthen the ways they utilize the skills gained through military experience to help them grow professionally.” 

Veterans in Business Awards winners will go to veteran-owned businesses that have exhibited exemplary achievements in areas of patriotism, leadership, community service and business activity. 

For information and tickets, visit vetconny.com, email info@vetconny.com or call 518-218-7100.
 

News of your troops and units can be sent to Times Union, Duty Calls, Terry Brown, Box 15000, Albany, NY 12212 or brownt@timesunion.com