SARATOGA SPRINGS —It was a chilly afternoon, but that didn’t stop a dedicated group of high schoolers from honoring Veterans Day with a flag replacement ceremony at Veterans Park.
The Saratoga Springs High School Military Club, led by sophomore Kelly McMurtrie, hosted the event on Thursday, Nov. 9. Attendees included veterans, fellow students, and New York State Senator James Tedisco.
“I always like to say that all good things emanate from the 44th senatorial district, and you certainly exemplify that,” Tedisco said of the military club. The senator said the students’ involvement in the club helped them understand why “we’re the greatest nation in the world, hands down.”
McMurtrie, whose father served in the Navy, said she loved growing up in a military family. “I liked being part of something that was bigger than just myself. The military was a huge community. But I also know that some families weren’t as fortunate as mine.”
McMurtie encouraged attendees to donate cash to the nonprofit organization Disabled American Veterans (DAV). Boxes were set up to collect donations. There were also Veterans Day cards made by local elementary school students available for veterans to take home.