As the nation pauses on the 14th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks tomorrow, a ceremony in Saratoga Springs will recognize the service of local veterans.
On Friday the New York State Military Museum will honor seven local veterans. The men and women who served in various conflicts will be the latest to be inducted into the 43rd Senate District's Veterans Hall of Fame.
The day will also feature a moment of remembrance for victims of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.
Republican state Senator Kathy Marchione says she looks forward to the annual ceremony.
"It's once a year, but we should be thanking veterans every day. Thanking them on the street when we see someone in uniform, when you see gentlemen who is a veteran wearing a hat that signifies he is a veteran belonging to some organization or that he was a veteran, we need to stop and say thank you. We need to let these people know how important they are to our country, how important they are to our future."
United States Army Green Beret Bill Allendorph served in the Vietnam War. He's a decorated soldier, recognized for rescuing a fellow soldier named Larry D. Aiken in 1969. Allendorph was 22 years old at the time.
"When we got to Larry, his head had been pounded in with, I imagine, a rifle butt or some heavy object like that. They tried to kill him before we got there. You might say he was half-dead when we got there. But he was alive and not conscious but his eyes were open. I tried to talked to him. We had to get him out of there. It was triple-canopy jungle. It was very difficult to extract him," said Allendorph.
Allendorph says he's honored to be a part of the ceremony Friday. He remarked on the change of sentiment toward veterans in the years since the Vietnam War.
"There was no fanfare when we came home, if you know what I'm talking about. So it feels very nice to recognized and thanked for the service that I gave to my country, so I'm happy about it."
Senator Marchione says she views their inductions into the Veterans Hall of Fame as a recognition that they take home.
"That honor follows these veterans into the community. Not just as a plaque being left, but actually honoring them into the community, and it just goes with them," said Marchione.
Also being honored are Stephen Dennis, a Navy veteran from Mechanicville; Robert Burlingham, a Navy veteran of Victory Mills; Vincent Gimaldi, an Army veteran of Taghkanic; John E. Parkinson, a Marine Corps veteran of Petersburgh; M. Duane Wehnau, a Navy veteran of Sand Lake; and Marilynn Wright, an Army veteran of Ghent.
The ceremony starts at 3 p.m. at the NYS Military Museum in Saratoga Springs.
For more information visit: https://dmna.ny.gov/historic/histpocs.html
