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Central New Yorkers pay their respects at annual watchfire

The Central New York Vietnam Veterans of America held their annual watchfire at the New York State Fairgrounds last night. Thousands of people came to honor the memory of those who have served.

The names of loved ones lost, who served in the military, were written on pieces of plywood which were then used as kindling for the watchfire. The event was billed as the largest gathering of veterans in New York state.

Credit Tom Magnarelli / WRVO News
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WRVO News
People wrote the names of loved ones lost who served in the military on pieces of plywood, which were then used in the fire.

It symbolically represents the tradition of after a battle, lighting a bonfire for troops who are missing so they can find their way back. But the fire also provides a respectful means for retiring old, tattered American flags.       

Reginald Manuel of Atlanta, Georgia grew up in Syracuse and served two tours in the U.S. Army infantry divisions in Iraq. This is his second year in a row coming to the watchfire.

“This is like a homecoming to me when it comes to the service. You have all branches of service that are here. It goes to my heart. I lost my father who served, my brother who passed away who wanted to serve, so it definitely reaches home,” Manuel said.

At dusk, the fire was lit. The large crowd gathered close around it, and all had to move many yards back because of the intense heat.

Credit Tom Magnarelli / WRVO News
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WRVO News
Older American flags are retired in the fire.

Several members of the Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 103 gave remarks during the ceremony.

But as so many people came to pay their respects, a grim reality remains that American service members are still putting their lives at risk overseas. The 10th Mountain Division at Fort Drum is still deploying units to Afghanistan and training security forces in Iraq.

Tom Magnarelli is a reporter covering the central New York and Syracuse area. He joined WRVO as a freelance reporter in 2012 while a student at Syracuse University and was hired full time in 2015. He has reported extensively on politics, education, arts and culture and other issues around central New York.