Veteran’s Day

How Onondaga honors their legacy

Thursday is Veteran’s Day—a day in which Onondaga County paid tribute to the local men and women who have served in the military. From Skaneateles to the city of Syracuse, retired service members were honored in ceremonies and symbolic gestures.

Shotwell Memorial Park in Skaneateles was covered with more than 100 flags for Veteran’s Day as a salute to veterans. Skaneateles High School girls’ lacrosse team sold the flags in honor of a veteran of the buyers choosing. They then placed them in the park, which is dedicated to veterans.

Syracuse University sought to, not only honor their veteran alumni, but also their former students currently diploid around the world, with a traveling flag. The flag had been shipped all over the world, to veterans and military members across the country and across the world. Some of the places include Afghanistan, Fort Drum in New York, and North Carolina’s Fort Bragg.

A veteran’s memorial
Jack Raffaele, retired Lt. Col. of the U.S. Army, was involved in the flag’s visit to Fort Bragg. For him, performing a tribute to his fellow veterans was as gratifying as seeing students honor him on this day.

He was also impressed with the reception veterans got at Fort Bragg from the fellow soldiers currently diploid there. “Not only did they fly [the Syracuse University flag], but they flew it for over 24 hours,” Lt. Col. Raffaele said. “And at the eng, when they took it down they had full color guard for us… We were very proud.”

As a veteran, he thought that this day has a growing significance. “Veteran’s Day is very important, and our country is—I think—finally understanding the importance of our veterans.”

A day off to commemorate
Several offices around the county took the day off to celebrate Veteran’s Day. Among them are:
• The Village of Skaneateles Mayor’s Office
• Syracuse City Schools
• County Public Libraries

Photo by eqqman