Daybreak Update 11/12/2009

The men and women walking down Main Street in Binghamton yesterday afternoon were a reminder of the many sacrifices veterans have made for this country. The annual Veterans Day parade started out at the American Legion Post 80 and went to the All Wars Memorial at the Broome County Veterans Memorial Arena. Veterans groups, community organizations and others marched as they remember the signing of the armistice that ended World War one. That happened on November 11th 1918 at the 11th hour of that day. Sandy Junker says, Thinking about the people who still live in this community, I mean my best friend is on the kiosk that is on the Vietnam Wall. You know, it means a lot to the veteran and to me. I've worked with veterans my entire life. Veterans are very special people. They're asked to do a job and have no questions. They do their job no matter what. That was parade organizer Sandy Junker. Veteran Frank Criscitello served in the South Pacific during World War two. He wishes a renewed sense of patriotism would sweep across the United States. Frank says, The message sir that I would like to get out is that after 9-11, everyone and their mother had a flag on their house, a flag on their car or motorcycle or truck. Where are those flags today? This is a great country. I love that flag. I'll die for that flag anytime. In Owego, Route 38 was dedicated as New York State Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway of Valor. A sign was unveiled yesterday. The memorial highway stretches from Owego to Sterling. Vietnam veterans say the name means a lot to them. 20 people from Tioga County lost their lives in Vietnam. Two-point-six million Americans served there. 58-thousand servicemen were killed, 153-thousand were injured. Jack says, It means a lot to all Vietnam veterans to have the sign erected. They treated us poorly when we came home and hopefully this might rectify a little bit of the bad feelings that we had towards the public after Vietnam. That was Jack Hartzel. He is the President of Vietnam Veterans Chapter 480 of Owego. And, this morning outside of First Congregational Church in Binghamton a bell rang 11 times. Veterans for Peace hosted the ceremony. The group wants all nations to work for peace and hopes that Veterans Day can be a time to promote peace, which was the original intent of Armistice Day.

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