Syracuse honors veterans of every era at Veterans Day Parade

Despite the cold and rain, more than 100 people gathered at the New York State Fairgrounds on Saturday for the CNY Veterans Parade and Expo to support veterans across the country.

The event ran from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. It featured several musical groups, an exposition with over 50 military and community organizations and an old-fashioned military parade with every branch of the armed services, including every conflict since World War II.

For Vietnam War veteran John J. “Jack” Murphy, who served in the U.S. Navy Seabees, the day was a chance to recruit others to Honor Flight, a program he credits with helping him recover from post-traumatic stress disorder.

“I have PTSD real bad,” Murphy said. “This program right here on the Honor Flight brought me from this height back to normal pretty much all the way.”

Murphy and his wife, Gail Murphy, spent the morning encouraging veterans to participate in the program. Murphy, who returned home in 1969, has gone on the Honor Flight twice, once with his father and once with his son, who went as a chaperone. He credits the VA and veterans groups with saving his 57-year marriage. 

“It means a lot seeing multiple generations at the event,” Murphy said. “You’re looking at families that are broken, families that need fixing, families that need love and tender care.”

When the parade started at noon, many veterans boarded floats to wave at spectators. Vietnam veteran Ed Rahn walked the route with his golden retriever.

“It’s just exciting going and seeing people enjoy it,” Rahn said. “For us Vietnam veterans, it’s special now because back then it wasn’t a popular occurrence.”

Rahn, who has marched in the parade for the past five years, has volunteered as a driver for Disabled American Veterans for 10 years and belongs to the Lafayette Veterans of Foreign War post. Like Murphy, he went on the Honor Flight last year, with his wife as his guardian. He also attends a free weekly lunch for veterans at Clear Path for Veterans.

“It’s just nice to see all the veterans there sharing stories, having lunch,” Rahn said. “People don’t always realize how many veterans live in Central New York.” 

Photo by Sophia Braun

Salt City Women Veterans Unit #80 is an organization connecting women in active duty and veterans across all service branches.

The exposition also highlighted women’s service. Navy veteran Stacey Brown said people tend to think only of men when they think of the military.

“As far back as World War I, there were females,” Brown said. “They weren’t necessarily serving in the traditional role, but they were still serving.”

As a member of Salt City Women Veterans, she helped host a fundraiser with food in the exposition hall.

“Women of earlier generations were kept out of combat and often given secretarial roles. They were told that they didn’t qualify for benefits because they weren’t a true veteran,” Brown said. “It’s great that now we’re coming out of that, and many places are welcoming us as veterans and really trying to make up for that a little bit.”

Several veterans said younger generations could learn from serving others. Gail Murphy, a nurse who works with high-risk children and a military wife, said she would like to see young people spend a year or two in service.

“When you reach out and do things for other people, it helps you,” she said.

Jack Murphy said young people today have a lot handed to them.

“We take too much for granted, too much at the tip of our fingertips,” he said.

Others said the lesson that matters most is the simplest one: Everyone who serves, in whatever role, is part of the same effort.

“It takes everyone to do the job, and we’re all on one team,” Brown said.

Brown, who said it was her second year at the event, said she loves hearing older veterans’ stories and wishes more people came out to hear them.

“Getting those stories down is super important,” she said. 

The expo and parade were followed by a performance featuring the 10th Mountain Division Band. Event emcees invited parade attendees to look for Hometown Hero flags around the city of Syracuse to continue appreciating veteran service in the coming weeks.