Ahlmeyer (photo from http://taskforceomegainc.org/)

Almost 40 years after his death, the remains of Heinz Ahlmeyer Jr., a 1966 alumnus of the State University of New York at New Paltz, will be buried with military honors at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia on May 10.

Ahlmeyer was reported missing in Vietnam on May 10, 1967, less than one year after his SUNY New Paltz graduation. He will be buried along with his comrades, Malcom Miller, Sgt. James Tycz and Lance Cpl. Samuel Sharp.

A small delegation of SUNY New Paltz representatives, including several alumni, will travel to Arlington next week to attend the ceremony. Those attending include Steven Poskanzer, college president; Stuart Robinson, director of athletics; Eric Gullickson, media relations coordinator; and Al Miller, Ahlmeyer's former soccer coach.

Ahlmeyer was a celebrated New Paltz athlete who inspired his fellow athletes with his hard work, amazed his coaches with his determination and touched the college with his kindness. When the news of Ahlmeyer's assumed death reached New Paltz, his athletic fraternity, the Delphic Fraternity, rallied together to create a permanent memorial in his name - The Heinz Ahlmeyer Award. This athletic award was developed to perpetuate the memory of Ahlmeyer and is presented every spring by the Department of Athletics, Intramurals and Recreation to the one student athlete whose dedication, perseverance and service beyond self has been an inspiration to both his/her teammates and fellow students.