Veterans Day Events 2020

Veterans Day events taking place on Veterans Day and throughout the month of November in or around Tompkins County

Veterans Day, Nov. 11, 2020

Dryden

  • @ 1100 Hours: The Dryden American Legion Post 1134 and the Dryden Veterans Memorial Home Ritual Team/Honor Guard will have a brief Veterans Day service on the Village Green.  The service will consist of a short oral presentation, prayer, twenty-one gun salute, and taps. The public is welcome. Masks and social distancing are a must.

Groton

Ithaca

  • @ 1111 Hours: Cornell University's Virtual Veterans Day Ceremony will take place, concluding by 1125. To view this ceremony, register here.

Cortland (Cortland County)

 

Online Viewing

  • The National Veterans Day Observance 2020: The Presidential Uniformed Services Full Honor Wreath-Laying Ceremony will begin at 1100 on Nov. 11. The ceremony will be livestreamed. 
     
  • The Opening of the National Native American Veterans Memorial: In continued observance of November as national Native American Heritage Month, the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian will open this new memorial on Veterans Day at the National Mall in Washington, DC. Find more information and view the ceremony at the link. 
     
  • Veterans Day 2020: An event with the Atlantic Council with keynote remarks by Gen. David Petraeus and a film adaptation to the stage play "War Words," which depicts true stories of the Veterans of war in Iraq and Afghanistan. Registration onsite required.
     

Veterans Honored also in November

Military Appreciation Week at Cornell University
All members of the Cornell and local community are welcome and encouraged to attend all events.

  • Nov. 9-12: Greenlight-A-Vet, McGraw Clock Tower, Daily
    Cornell Undergraduate Veterans Association distribute green light bulbs on campus to raise awareness and show appreciation to military Veterans and their sacrifices for our country.

  • Nov. 13: Support the Ivy League Challenge for Veterans Day/USMC Birthday Fundraiser,
    Support Cornell sophomore and USMC Veteran Michael Sanchez and other local college Veterans during the Ivy League Veterans Council Veterans Day Run/Walk 2020. Funds raised support Semper Fi & America's Fund, which provides urgently needed resources and support for combat wounded, critically ill, and catastrophically injured members of the armed forces and their families. Find Michael on through the "team page" to donate.

  • Nov. 13:  Veterans Tell Their Stories Panel and Q&A, 6 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. 
    Join this panel discussion and hear directly from Veterans from recent conflicts representing different branches of the U.S. Armed Forces. Register required for this Veterans Panel Webinar.


Ithaca

  • Nov. 12: Warrior Writers-Tompkins, 7-9p
    Muster 1900-2100 on Thursday, Nov. 12, with this group of Veterans from various times of military conflict and write on command based on a writing prompt/suggestion that can be based on a Veterans time in service or a significant event in their life. The group meets the second and fourth Thursdays.
     
  • Nov. 19: Virtual Veterans Coffeehouse, 12-2p
    Gather in the Zoom room to meet, chat, network with other Veterans from around Tompkins County. This makes a perfect event for area Veterans to extend their observance of Veterans Day.
     

Lansing

  • All November: Journey Fitness offers free admission to non-member Veterans and active duty service members.
     
  • Nov. 14: WOD 4 Warriors, 0900-1000, Journey Fitness
    Join the Workout of the Day with Team RWB and other Veterans and maintain (regain?) that service physique and stamina. 


Waverly (Tioga County)

  • Nov. 19: Coffee & Breakfast with Mike and Bonnie, 0900-1100, Waverly VFW Post
    Veterans in and around Waverly are invited to join Tioga Veterans Service Officers Mike Middaugh and Bonnie Hand at the VFW on Broad Street. The VSOs talk it up with Veterans who want to talk about life under COVID and other matters for Veterans and their families. Registration's requested.


 

Veterans Making News

  • More Student Veterans Join a Welcoming Community
    Read about USMC Veterans Jenny Cunningham and Michael Sanchez in this month's Cornell Chronicle, which focuses on what Cornell is doing to attract college-bound Veterans. This story also features a video introducing both Veterans and services at Cornell. 
     
  • NYS DEI Weekly focus: Women and Native American Veterans: Women Veterans, Native American Veterans and Native American Heritage Month
    Learn about news and State resources for Women Veterans and Native American Veterans through the weekly e-newsletter published by the Division of Veterans' Services focusing on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.

 

Additional Community Events 

  • Nov. 20: GIAC Harvest Fest Dinner 2020, 4:30 to 7:30p
    The Greater Activities Center (GIAC) holds its annual community dinner but with one change for 2020, meals will be by pick-up only.
     
  • Pre-Thanksgiving: Clear Path Offers Delivery for Thanksgiving
    Rather than let COVID cause the cancellation of their annual Thanksgiving meal, Clear Path for Veterans will offer Thanksgiving Meal Kits to eligible Veteran families in need. The organization also is seeking support from the greater public to help eligible Veterans and their families receive meal kits delivered to their doorsteps at no cost.
     
  • Dec. 2: Journey to Normal, Film documentary and community conversation; Time: TBA 
    This documentary follows eight women who served on the front lines of Afghanistan through their first two years after returning home. Register and join in for a screening of the film followed by a community conversation with the film’s director and producer.  Eye-opening, thought-provoking and heart-breaking; get a look into the lives, struggles and triumphs of some of our women veterans.