Camp Smith Training Site, Cortlandt Manor, N.Y. – New York Army National Guard Chaplain (Capt.) Joseph Marcoux fully embraced his service to meeting the religious needs of his Soldiers when he performed what is believed to be the first baptism held at the Duffy Chapel on the

National Guard’s Camp Smith training site September 10, 2023.

Marcoux, who commands the 138th Chaplain Detachment commander, baptized 16-month old Gianna Demestrio, the daughter of Sgt. 1st Class Steven Demestrio, part of the Joint Force Headquarters, and his spouse, Spc. Tabitha Demestrio, who serves with the 206th Military Police Company.

Camp Smith, first established for the National Guard in 1882 and named for New York Governor Alfred E. Smith in 1919, had not previously recorded a religious service for baptism.

The ceremony was held at the installation’s Duffy Chapel. The chapel is named after Army National Guard Chaplain (Lt. Col.) Francis Duffy, a Catholic priest and New York Army National Guard Chaplain who served with the 69th Infantry Regiment during WWI.

Duffy received the Distinguished Service Cross, Distinguished Service Medal, and France’s Croix de Guerre for his service first with the 69th Regiment and later as the 42nd Division Chaplain in France in 1918. After the war, Duffy served as pastor of Holy Cross Church on 42nd Street, just west of Times Square.

The idea for the service sprang from Steven Demestrio, who served as Chaplain Marcoux’s religious affairs specialist for two years in the detachment. Demestrio has since left the unit, but the two remained close, he explained.

Chaplain Marcoux said he was thrilled when asked to perform the baptism and saw the perfect opportunity to conduct it at the newly renovated Duffy Chapel.

“It was very humbling and very honorable to do this for them,” Marcoux said. “The experience of doing the first baptism that’s been done in Duffy Chapel…was powerful, [it] was really great. The fact that this is a military family, and they did it on a military base, really felt like family,” he said.

The Demestrios say they were ecstatic at the opportunity to have the baptism at the Duffy Chapel due to the role the military has played in both their lives, as a dual military family.

“Though it’s hard at times with my husband being away or I’ve been away. Our children have really adapted to how important it is to serve our country and how important it is to serve God at the same time,” said Tabitha Demestrio. “So now, adding our youngest into that mix, it makes it feel like more of a close-knit military family.”

The Demestrios were joined by Gianna’s godparents, Marco Litchfield and Fior Kinne.

The Duffy Chapel and Spiritual Fitness Center at Camp Smith provides space for National Guard units to address the spiritual needs of citizen Soldiers and build resilience.

Unit chaplains can utilize the chapel for services, and units may utilize the space for group and individual study, reflection, and spiritual fitness.