NY's naval militia helps on summer border patrol

ROUSES POINT-- Members of the state's naval militia are lending a hand to U.S. Border Patrol efforts on Lake Champlain.

New York National Guard officials say that for five consecutive weekends starting Saturday, a naval militia boat and two-man crew will help border patrol agents inspect pleasure craft entering the United States from Canada at Rouses Point in Clinton County.

National Guard officials estimate that 100 to 150 boats will pass through the border daily during peak boating weekends this summer.

The 2,000-member New York Naval Militia is a component of the state's military forces, along with the Army and Air National Guard. Most naval militia members also serve in the Navy, Marine Corps or Coast Guard Reserve.

-- AP