A turbine assembly in a turbine engine , the turbine assembly having an outer casing , an inner casing , an annular exhaust gas path defined between outer and inner flow path walls , and a turbine exhaust casing cavity located radially outward and radially inward from the gas path, and further comprising: a plurality of structural struts supporting the inner casing to the outer casing; a fairing surrounding each of the struts in an area extending between the outer and inner flow path walls; a first purge air path extending radially inward through at least one of the struts conducting purge cooling air to the inner casing for supplying purge air to at least one component radially inward from the inner casing; and a second purge air path extending radially outward through the at least one strut for further conducting the purge cooling air radially outward from the at least one component to provide a flow of purge air to an outer location of the exhaust casing cavity radially outward from the outer flow path wall, wherein the first purge air path is formed by a tubular passage extending through a central portion of the strut , wherein the second purge air path is formed by an open cavity extending radially between radially outer and inner ends of the strut , and the tubular passage extends through the open cavity, wherein the open cavity is elongated in an axial direction parallel to the gas path , and including strut orifices extending through axially extending sides of the strut from the open cavity to an area exterior of the strut and isolated from the exhaust gas path, wherein the strut orifices are located adjacent to the radially outer end of the strut , and including a strut shield surrounding an outer surface of the strut, and defining a gap therebetween, for guiding a flow of the purge air from the strut orifices radially inward along the outer surface of the strut. a plurality of structural struts supporting the inner casing to the outer casing; a fairing surrounding each of the struts in an area extending between the outer and inner flow path walls; a first purge air path extending radially inward through at least one of the struts conducting purge cooling air to the inner casing for supplying purge air to at least one component radially inward from the inner casing; and a second purge air path extending radially outward through the at least one strut for further conducting the purge cooling air radially outward from the at least one component to provide a flow of purge air to an outer location of the exhaust casing cavity radially outward from the outer flow path wall, wherein the first purge air path is formed by a tubular passage extending through a central portion of the strut , wherein the second purge air path is formed by an open cavity extending radially between radially outer and inner ends of the strut , and the tubular passage extends through the open cavity, wherein the open cavity is elongated in an axial direction parallel to the gas path , and including strut orifices extending through axially extending sides of the strut from the open cavity to an area exterior of the strut and isolated from the exhaust gas path, wherein the strut orifices are located adjacent to the radially outer end of the strut , and including a strut shield surrounding an outer surface of the strut, and defining a gap therebetween, for guiding a flow of the purge air from the strut orifices radially inward along the outer surface of the strut. <EOS>