The Long Lake American Legion Post #650 announces the Memorial Day Events for Monday, May 25, 2015.

The American Legion will at march starting at 8:30am down from the Long Lake Town Hall to the to the Long Lake Town Bridge, back to the World War Two Monument and the Town Hall. At approximately 9am the Legion will march with the Long Lake Central School band and the Long Lake Fire Department and Rescue Squad to the Long Lake Cemetery for the Memorial Day ceremony with guest speaker Colonel Elizabeth Ryan Griffin.

Colonel Elizabeth Ryan Griffin is a native of Rochester, New York. She graduated from American University in 1992 with a baccalaureate degree in English and certification in Secondary Education. Colonel Griffin was a distinguished military graduate from Georgetown University’s Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) Program and was commissioned in the Corps of Engineers.

Colonel Griffin was first assigned to Fort Hood, Texas where she served in various Engineer assignments to include Battalion Assistant Operations Officer; Vertical Construction Platoon Leader; Executive Officer in an Assault Float Bridge Company; and Battalion Adjutant. Following the Engineer Officer Advanced Course, Colonel Griffin was assigned to Giessen, Germany, where she served as the 16th Engineer Battalion Logistics Officer; the 1st Brigade Combat Team Assistant Brigade Engineer; and the Headquarters and Headquarters Company (HHC) Commander, 16th Engineer Battalion.

After completing Combined Arms and Services Staff School, Colonel Griffin was nominated to serve at the Army’s Human Resources Command in Alexandria, Virginia where she served as the Civilian Education Branch Chief responsible for the professional development of the Army’s officer corps at civilian institutions worldwide. During this tour of duty, Colonel Griffin applied for and received designation to the Human Resources Community. After graduating from the Command and General Staff College, Colonel Griffin served as the Operations Officer for the Officer Personnel Management System Task Force providing the Chief of Staff of the Army periodic updates on the future of the Army’s officer corps. Subsequent assignments included Development Officer, Senior Leader Development Office; Deputy Joint Human Resources Officer for the Multi-National Security Transition Command – Iraq; U.S. Army Garrison Commander in Mannheim, Germany; and Chief, Officer Selection Board Policy, Army G-1.
Colonel Griffin holds a Master’s degree in Policy Management from Georgetown University and a Master’s Degree in National Resource Strategy from the Industrial College of the Armed Forces – Eisenhower School. She has completed two graduate certificates in Executive Leadership from Cornell University; is a certified Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR); and has earned designation as a Human Capital Strategist (HCS).

Colonel Griffin’s operational and combat deployments include Joint Task Force 160, Operation Sea Signal, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba (1994-1995); Operations Joint Endeavor and Joint Guard, 1st Armored Division, Balkans (1997-1998, 2000); and Operation Iraqi Freedom, Multi-National Security Transition Command-Iraq (2008-2009)

Colonel Griffin’s military awards include the Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal with five oak leaf clusters, the Army Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster, the Joint Service Achievement Medal, the Army Achievement Medal, various Service and Campaign medals, the Humanitarian Service Medal, Outstanding Military Volunteer Medal, the NATO Medal, and Joint Meritorious Unit Award. She has earned the U.S. Army Parachutist Badge, Gold German Sports Badge, and is a certified Army Master Fitness Trainer.

Colonel Griffin is married to Charles Griffin and they have two children, Cavan and Mikaely, age 11. Colonel Griffin currently serves as the Chief, Strategic Initiatives Group, for the Assistant Secretary of the Army (Manpower and Reserve Affairs) and the Deputy Chief of Staff, G-1 in Washington, DC.