The ceremony included the rededication of monuments moved earlier this fall from the lawn at Clarkson University's Old Snell Hall to the new Veterans Memorial Plaza at Ives Park in downtown Potsdam.
Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1194 Commander Robert S. Crary said Friday's observance marked the culmination of several years of planning, fundraising and hands on work to turn a dream into reality.
Assemblywoman Addie Jenne Russell was on hand for the ceremony after receiving an invitation to the event from Mr. Crary. She secured $15,000 in state funding for the Veterans Memorial Plaza project.
"Without her support, this wouldn't have happened," Mr. Crary told a large crowd gathered for the Veterans Day observance and rededication of the World War I and II, Korea and Vietnam monuments moved from the lawn at Old Snell Hall to Ives Park.
"It was quite an ordeal getting things to where they are today. Today we remember. We will never forget," the VFW commander said.
Mr. Crary praised a number of groups, organizations, businesses and local government that played a role in the establishment of the Veterans Memorial Plaza.
He said the effort was aided by Potsdam Village Administrator Everett Basford, Jim Corbett and his crew from the village's Department of Public Works, Willow Tree Florist, Pignona Memorials and volunteers from the VFW post and the Beta Tau fraternity.
DAV Chapter 164 Commander John Stafford said he was encouraged by the turnout for the Veterans Day observance.
"This is a large turnout. I noticed a lot of veterans. That makes me feel real good. This is a rededication of these monuments. Stanley Crump, my right hand man, worked long and hard along with Bob Crary to bring this to fruition," he said.
Mr. Stafford said as he looked into the crowd he saw veterans from World War II, Korea, Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan.
"We are truly a bunch of veterans here today. This is our monument," he stressed.
Assemblywoman Russell, speaking after the ceremony, said she felt it was important to be on hand for the first Veterans Day observance at the new Veterans Memorial Plaza.
"It was wonderful to see this community of local veterans organize to make sure there was an appropriate space to reflect on the service of so many," she said.
"The setting is absolutely beautiful and more easily accessible by the community. Even more importantly this new location means the monuments will be viewed by more people as they visit Ives Park, including the young adults that come to the community to attend college," Assemblywoman Russell said.
"I just want to congratulate all the people who have made this possible," she noted.
The new plaza includes the existing memorials that honor the 57 members of the armed forces from the Potsdam-area that lost their lives in World War I and World War II. The other monuments honor those killed in Korea and Vietnam.
Monuments honoring those who have served in Iraq and Aghanistan, as well as prisoners of war, have been added, and poles flying the American and Prisoner of War flags were also installed at the new location. A pathway from the memorials to the Raquette River is planned, and additional park benches have been placed in the area.
Potsdam's Memorial Day observances have been held at Ives Park for years, but the Veterans' Day observances have been held on the lawn at Old Snell Hall, where the memorial tablet honoring the war dead from World Wars I and II was erected in the late 1940s.
Mr. Crary said the new location for the monuments is much more appropriate since the monuments had previously been located on the edge of the sidewalk next to the street on the lawn at the now vacant Old Snell Hall.
IN THE PHOTOS:
TOP PHOTO:
Members of the color guard raise the colors during the Veterans Day observance ceremony in Potsdam. The service marked the official opening of the Veterans Memorial Plaza at Ives Park.
BOTTOM PHOTO:
Veterans of Foreign Wars Post Commander Bob Crary tells Assemblywoman Addie Jenne Russell about the steps taken to move a 2,300-pound monument honoring those from the Potsdam area killed in World War I and World War II from the lawn in front of Clarkson University's Old Snell Hall to its new home on the banks of the Raquette River in Ives Park.
Assemblywoman Addie Jenne Russell looks on as the color guard raises the POW-MIA flag during the Veterans Day observance at Potsdam's Veterans Memorial Plaza.
Assemblywoman Addie Jenne Russell examines the monuments now standing in Potsdam's Veterans Memorial Plaza.
A service member checks out a monument honoring those who lost their lives in World War I and World War II.
Monuments honoring those who made the supreme sacrifice in Iraq and Aghanistan have joined monuments honoring the war dead from World Wars I and II, Korea and Vietnam at Potsdam's Veterans Memorial Plaza.
