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Congressman Paul Tonko (NY-20) will attend several events this Veterans Day weekend to honor service members and their families for sacrifices made in defense of the nation. Please see below for a quote from Rep. Tonko as well as his official weekend schedule.

“We owe our way of life to those who have fought for our nation from the greatest generation to the service members we are working to bring home from Iraq and Afghanistan,”said Tonko. “It is important that we pause to thank those who have bravely served and we must work each day to support them through every stage of their service and beyond.”

Friday, November 8^th:

9:15 a.m. – 10:15 a.m.

Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake High School Veterans Day Ceremony

88 Lake Hill Road

Ballston, NY 12027

Notes:

·        The student-led ceremony will run from 9:15 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.

·        Congressman Tonko will speak at the breakfast that follows with 25-35 area veterans. Tonko’s remarks will begin around 9:40 a.m.

1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Albany Postal Employees Veterans Day Ceremony

30 Karner Road

Albany, NY 12288

Notes:

·        WWII Medal of Honor recipient Francis Currey and Waterford Postmaster Gerald Cahill will both be honored at the event.

·        Currey is a  WWII Medal of Honor recipient, has a GI Joe figure modeled after him, and was praised on the House floor this summer by Rep. Tonko

·        Cahill enlisted in the army in 1985 and, after 11 years of active service, he joined the Army National Guard where he served from 1997-2007 with the 42^nd Infantry Division. While with the 42^nd, Cahill was called into active duty during Operation Iraqi Freedom.

2:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.

Tour of Unity House

2431 Sixth Avenue

Troy, NY 12180

Note:

·        Unity House is a Rensselaer County-based human service agency that provides a wide range of services to meet the otherwise unmet needs of people in the Capital Region. They assist those who are living in poverty, adults living with mental illness or HIV/AIDS, victims of domestic violence, and children with developmental delays.

Saturday, November 9^th:

3:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Amsterdam Elks Lodge Veterans Day Dinner

8 4^th Avenue

Amsterdam, NY 12010

Note:

·        Amsterdam ROTC and the Marching Rams will be presenting at this event.

6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.

USS Slater Night

Fort Orange Club, West Lounge

110 Washington Ave

Albany NY 12210

Notes:

·        During World War II, 563 Destroyer Escorts battled Nazi U-boats on the North Atlantic protecting convoys of men and material. In the Pacific they stood in line to defend naval task forces from Japanese submarines and Kamikaze air attacks. Today, only one of these ships remains afloat in the United States, the USS SLATER. Moored on the Hudson River in Albany, New York, the USS SLATER has undergone an extensive fifteen-year restoration that has returned the ship to her former glory. The museum offers hour-long guided tours, youth group overnight camping, and a historic location to hold naval reunions.

8:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.

Patriot Hills New York Veterans Gala and Military Ball

The Saratoga Hilton

534 Broadway

Saratoga Springs, NY 12866

Notes:

·        Patriot Hills of New York is a non-profit made up of volunteers and military members. The organization provides support to veterans and their families through online requests for confidential referral services and sponsor workshop webinars on reintegration, veteran’s issues, job placement and educational opportunities.

Sunday, November 10^th:

11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

15^th Annual Rensselaer County Veterans Day Breakfast

Brunswick Elks Lodge

665 Brunswick Road

Troy, New York 12180

1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Town of Florida Veterans Memorial Park Committee Veterans Day Celebration

214 Fort Hunter Road

Amsterdam, NY 12010

Monday, November 11^th:

9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.

Rensselaer County Annual Memory Walk

Troy, NY

Notes:

·        The walk will begin at Monument Square in Troy near the site of the Old City Hall, and will visit all of Troy’s war memorials.

11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

Albany’s 56^th Annual Veterans Day Parade

Central Avenue and Partridge Street

Albany, NY

Note:

·        The parade will kick off at the corner of Central Avenue and Partridge Street at 11:00 a.m. and then proceed east on Central. It will continue east on Washington Avenue to Hawk Street, located just east of the NYS Capitol.

1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Gold Star Families of Albany Luncheon

American Legion Zaloga Post 1520

4 Everett Road Ext

Albany, NY 12205

2:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Rotterdam 54^th Annual Veterans Ceremony

Rotterdam Town Hall Veterans Monument

1100 Sunrise Blvd

Schenectady, NY 12306