Memorial Day Watchfire

The annual pyre to honor our nation’s military personnel past and present takes place around late afternoon to dusk on Sunday, May 29, at the New York State Fairgrounds’ Veterans Memorial Watchfire Park (sandwiched between Routes 690 and 695 and State Fair Boulevard). The huge symbolic bonfire serves as part of a longtime military tradition, when following a long march a fire was lit as a beacon for lost soldiers to locate their comrades. The fire is also used for a respectful burning of tattered and no longer serviceable American flags. Central New York’s Chapter 103 of the Vietnam Veterans of America again hosts the event and they could use some volunteers to construct the bonfire, starting at 8 a.m., with refreshments and a box lunch provided; call 492-3015 to help.