After five years of planning and fundraising, a dedication ceremony will be held this spring in Cayuga County for a memorial honoring Blue Star and Gold Star families.
Dr Linda Townsend is a member of the Cayuga County Veterans Memorial Committee, which is responsible for the memorial. She told Finger Lakes News Radio that the memorial will provide a space for Gold Star and Blue Star families to honor their loved ones.
“There are no names on it and it’s that way so any Gold Star family or Blue Star family can come and use it as a place of remembrance or celebration of life,” said Townsend.
A Gold Star family is a family that has lost a member while serving in the military while Blue Star families are those with members actively serving in the military.
The memorial has been designed by Dr Townsend Nick Valenti, co-chairs of the Gold Star Mothers Memorial and Fundraising Committee.
“It’s quite a testament to the freedom and democracy that people in our community cherish,” continued Townsend.
The ceremony is scheduled for 1:00p on Friday, April 25, at Centreport Aquaduct Park on Route 31 in the Town of Brutus, just outside of Weedsport. That same night, at 7:00p, the Department of New York American Gold Star Mothers will hold their 88th convention at the Holiday Inn in Auburn.
“It’s been a long time coming, and we are so proud to be able to honor our Gold Star/Blue Star mothers on the very date that the Gold Star Mothers have their state convention in Auburn,” said Valenti.
More details on the dedication will be released as the April date approaches.
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