Ceremony at N.Y. base to honor fallen airman

NEWBURGH, N.Y. — Members of a New York Air National Guard unit will turn out at a Hudson Valley air base to honor a fallen comrade killed in Afghanistan.

The body of Staff Sgt. Todd J. Lobraico Jr. is scheduled to arrive Wednesday afternoon at Stewart Air National Guard Base in Newburgh, home to the Air National Guard’s 105th Airlift Wing. A memorial ceremony will be held at the base after his remains arrive.

Lobraico was a member of the 105th Security Forces Squadron. He died last Thursday after his unit was attacked near Bagram Airfield.

Known to his family and friends as T.J., the 22-year-old Lobraico was from New Fairfield, Conn. He joined the Air National Guard in 2008 and was on his second overseas deployment.

His parents also serve in the 105th Airlift Wing.