Veterans Week around Tompkins County
Welcome to the calendar of events for activities observing Veterans Week in Tompkins County, 6-11 November 2023, as well as throughout November. Activities listed below are sponsored by various entities to honor our County’s community of Veterans, including our families. All times noted are in the Eastern Time Zone.
NOTE: This page is updated as notifications come in so check back often.
- updated Nov. 9, 2023
All November:
Operation Greenlight
home to the Department of Veterans Services
Facilities belonging to Tompkins County, City of Ithaca, and Village of Trumansburg – along with numerous homes, businesses, and institutions -- will be lit with green lights during the week and month in support of Veterans across Tompkins County. Operation Greenlight, which is now observed nationwide, uses the color green to symbolize hope, renewal and wellbeing.
Find more information about Operation Greenlight and National Association of Counties
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Veterans Wall of Honor
- Daily during November in main hallway of Cayuga Medical Center, 101 Dates Dr., Ithaca.
- Photo gallery honors staff with Cayuga Health Systems who are Veterans or have Veterans in their families.
- Veterans with ID will receive a discount in the gift shops and cafeterias at Cayuga Medical Center.
Saturday, 4 November
- 0900-1200 (9a-12p) and 1300-1600 (1-4p): Ithaca City Cemetery Cleanup
Cornell University's Veterans community has organized a special event as part of their Veterans
Day/Military Appreciation Events. Volunteers are needed to clean up Veterans Gravesites at the
Ithaca City Cemetery.
US Marine Corps Birthday Celebration
- 1700 (5p): Join the celebration of the 248th birthday of the USMC at the Big Flats American Legion, 45
Olcott Rd S. Host is E.J. Brewer Marine Corps League Detachment 458 of New York. Guest Speaker
will be Maj. Edwin B. Powers, USMC and Executive Officer of Cornell University's Naval ROTC
program.
Monday-Friday, 6-10 November
“Thank you Veterans” Banners and Military Trivia Lawn Signs
- Cornell University campus
Monday, 6 November
- 1930 (7:30p): A Legacy of Service: Cornell's Military History
Founded at the close of the American Civil War, Cornell University has a long history of military service and engagement. Join us to learn more about the history of ROTC, Cornell's role in major world
conflicts, student veterans programs, and campus memorials to those who served. In observance of
Veterans Day, join the Cornell Military Network and Corey Ryan Earle '07 for this webinar on Cornell's
military history. Corey teaches AMST 2001: The First American University, a popular undergraduate
course about Cornell history. For previous recordings of presentations on Cornell history, visit
http://blogs.cornell.edu/cornellhistory/.
Tuesday, 7 November
-1230-1430/12:30-2:30p: McGraw House Veterans Coffeehouse & Open House
Veterans who reside at McGraw House and in the wider Tompkins County community, as well as their
spouses or surviving spouses and families, are welcome to gather for an Open House at McGraw
House in recognition of Veterans Week. Tours of McGraw House will be available.
- 221 S. Geneva St., Ithaca
- 1900 (7p): Mental Health in the Military
Major General Gregg Martin will speak on behalf of his new, published memoir, "Bipolar General." Major
General Martin will lead a lecture and then participate in a Q&A Panel with Cayuga Healthy CEO, Dr.
Marty Stallone, and CEO and Chairman of Fisher House Foundation, Ken Fisher. This event is free and
open to the public.
- The event will take place in the Emerson suites at Ithaca College. Doors open at 6:30 PM.
Wednesday, 8 November
- 1900 (7p): Veterans Appreciation Game at Cornell
Men's Basketball v. Morrisville State College
Newman Arena at Bartels Hall
Veterans can sign up for free or reduced-price tickets at bit.ly/BigRedVetApp2023
Thursday, 9 November
- 1200 (12p): Ithaca College Veterans Day Celebration
Ithaca College's 20th celebration will take place at the Whalen Center in Ford Hall, the College's School
of Music, Theatre and Dance,
Special Guest Speaker: Sgt. Joey Diana Gates of the United States Army
Master of Ceremonies: Art Ostrander.
Reception to follow.
- 12:30-4:30p (12:30-1630): Tompkins County Veterans Resources Fair and Open House
Co-sponsored by the Tompkins County Department of Veterans Services, Tompkins County VA
Community-Based Outreach Clinic, and the office of New York State Senator Lea Webb, this
collaboration is a first for the Tompkins Veterans community. Learn about services for Veterans and their
eligible family members in Tompkins County. Eligible Veterans can sign up for VA Healthcare.
- Held at the Tompkins County VA Clinic, 2309 North Triphammer Road, in the Cayuga Shopping Mall.
- 1300-1600 (1-4p): Cornell Military Exhibition
- 217 Computing & Communications Center, Cornell Campus
- 1300-1500 (1-3p): Binghamton Hometown Heroes Banner Dedication & Unveiling Ceremony
Honoring US Army Medal of Honor Recipient Maj. Gen. John Cleveland Robinson and nine other
"Hometown Heroes" from Binghamton
- Visions Veterans Memorial Arena, 2nd Floor Concourse
Friday, 10 November
Cornell University Veterans Day Celebration
- 1000 (10a): Cornell Military History Walking Tour
Learn about Cornell's rich history with our nation's military through a walking tour of war memorials
across its campus. Sponsored by Cornell's Veteran Colleague Network Group and Cornell's Military
Community. The tour begins at Barton Hall nearest the Statler Hotel.
- 1500-1600 (3-4p): Celebrate Veterans and Service
Join the campus observation of Veterans Day, including guest speaker Kathleen Miller '82, deputy
undersecretary of defense. Wear R.E.D. (Remember Everyone Deployed)
- Sage Hall, Cornell Campus
- 1648 (4:48p)/Dusk: Greenlight-A-Vet
McGraw Clock Tower shines a green light in honor, support, and to raise awareness of challenges facing
our nation's Veterans
- 1800 (6p): U.S. Armed Forces Branch of Service Anthem Concert
By Cornell Chimes, McGraw Clock Tower
Find more information on Cornell's 2023 Military Appreciation Events
Saturday, 11 November VETERANS DAY 2023
- 1100 (11a):
DeWitt Park Ceremony, Downtown Ithaca
Ithaca's traditional Veterans Day Ceremony, hosted by Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 961 and
Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA) Chapter 377 in collaboration with numerous Veteran service
organizations and other entities across Tompkins County.
- Intersection of North Cayuga and East Buffalo Streets, Ithaca, NY
Dryden Ceremony, Dryden Village Green
Dryden American Legion’s (Post 1134) ceremony to include its Ritual Team, a 21-Gun Salute, and Taps
- Intersection of Main and North Streets, Dryden, NY
Groton Ceremony, Groton American Legion Post 800
Post 800's Honor Guard conducts its annual ceremony and gun salute
- Carrington-Fuller Post No. 800, 307 Main Street, Groton, NY
- 1400 (2p): Ithaca American Legion Veterans Day Chicken BBQ and Concert
Ithaca's Post 221 celebrates Veterans with a Chicken BBQ dinner (free to Veterans; $12/dinner non-
Veterans). Adding to the festivities will be a concert featuring Ghost Train Band, 1500-1800 (3-6p)
- 1231 Danby Road, Ithaca, NY
- 1800 (6p): Groton Legion Post 800 Veterans Day Dinner
The Carrington-Fuller Post 800 will host a complimentary roast pork dinner for area veterans and one
guest each. Cocktail Hour with cash bar begins at 1730. Advance reservations will be required.
Open to the public. Quantities are limited.
- 307 Main Street, Groton, NY
Tuesday, 14 November
- 1900-2100 (7-9p): Warrior Writers-Tompkins
Join Veterans across Tompkins and various periods of service to write, share, and otherwise connect
about their military experience. Group facilitators include Kevin Basl and Nate Lewis, US Army Veterans
and members of the national Warrior Writers organization.
Friday, 17 November
- 1645-1930 (4:45p-7:30p): The Greater Ithaca Activities Center (GIAC) Annual Harvest Fest Dinner
GIAC’s annual Harvest Fest is a cherished opportunity to serve a home-cooked meal to the community that can
be enjoyed without worry about cost or other stresses (like who is going to do the dishes!). GIAC's free holiday
dinner is for pick-up only. Pre-orders (with limits) through registration are required by 1730 on 15
November at https://bit.ly/giacharvest23 or by calling 607.272.3622.
- 1800 (6p): Veterans Appreciation Game at Cornell
Women's Ice Hockey v. Quinnipiac University
Lynah Rink
Veterans can sign up for free or reduced-price tickets at bit.ly/BigRedVetApp2023
Saturday, 18 November
- 1300 (1p): Veterans Appreciation Game at Cornell
Cornell Football v. Columbia University
Schoelkopf Memorial Stadium
Veterans can sign up for free or reduced-price tickets at bit.ly/BigRedVetApp2023
