Army Band Pays Tribute To Local Soldiers

Three Capital Region New York Army National Guard Soldiers who served in Afghanistan will be honored Thursday night, May 7, by the United States Army Materiel Command Band during a concert at Watervliet High School.
Specialist David Hansen, a Troy native and SUNY Albany student, 1st Sgt. James Meltz, a Cropseyville resident and New York State Trooper, and Lt. Col. Paul Fanning, originally of Watervliet and now of Malta and a full-time employee of the National Guard, will be recognized for their service in Afghanistan last year. All served as part of the New York Army National Guard’s 27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team.
The performance of the AMC Band, based at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, is one of two performances the band will stage in the Capital Region. Along with appearing at Watervliet High School at 7 pm on Thursday, the band will also play at the Albany Tulip Festival on Friday from 5:30 to 7:30 pm.
The band will play a variety of music ranging from traditional patriotic music to more contemporary rock music. Both concerts are free and open to the public.
Meltz, from Cropseyville, earned the Bronze Star with a V for valor during his Afghanistan deployment. On the night of May 25-26, Meltz led the soldiers of his company, D Company, 2nd Battalion, 108th Infantry, as they beat back an attack launched by Taliban elements on a long range convoy. During the three hour battle, Meltz and his company commander, Capt. Merrill were recognized for taking direct actions which led to the repulsion of the enemy force.
This was Meltz’s second deployment. He had previously been deployed to Iraq.